Radio History: Aug 2

➦In 1922...Alexander Graham Bell died at age 75 (Born - March 3, 1847).  He was a Scottish-born American inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with inventing and patenting the first practical telephone. He also founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885.

Bell's father, grandfather, and brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech and both his mother and wife were deaf, profoundly influencing Bell's life's work. His research on hearing and speech further led him to experiment with hearing devices which eventually culminated in Bell being awarded the first U.S. patent for the telephone in 1876. Bell considered his invention an intrusion on his real work as a scientist and refused to have a telephone in his study.

Many other inventions marked Bell's later life, including groundbreaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils, and aeronautics. Although Bell was not one of the 33 founders of the National Geographic Society, he had a strong influence on the magazine while serving as the second president from January 7, 1898, until 1903.

Bell died of complications arising from diabetes on August 2, 1922, at his private estate in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  Bell had also been afflicted with pernicious anemia. His last view of the land he had inhabited was by moonlight on his mountain estate at 2:00 a.m. While tending to him after his long illness, Mabel, his wife, whispered, "Don't leave me." By way of reply, Bell signed "no...", lost consciousness, and died shortly after.

➦In 1964...Comedic radio actor Jack Kirkwood died just days short of his 70th birthday. He had a well know repeated role on The Bob Hope Show.  Some called Kirkwood Bob Hope's second banana, but in actuality Bob Hope often played the straight man to Jack Kirkwood's hijinks.

His contributions to golden age of radio was extensive.  He was on such shows as The Bob Hope Show, Edgar Bergen, Ozzie & Harriet, The Alan Young Show, Fibber McGee and Molly, Jack Benny Program, the star-studded show train Railroad Hour, and many more.

➦In 1983...WHTZ 100.3 FM, licensed to Newark, NJ signed-on with Scott Shannon and the "Morning Zoo". It went from "worst to first" in just a few months.

The station went on the air at 6:08 AM.  The first two songs ever played on the station were "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, followed by "America" by Neil Diamond.

Initially, the station called themselves by their new call letters, but by late August, they began calling themselves "WHTZ Newark, New York's New Z100". The station signed on from its new and still-incomplete studio in Secaucus, transmitting from the old FM tower site in West Orange, New Jersey, as their antenna was not moved to the top of the Empire State Building until August 4 at 6 AM.

Z100 was the second station that summer to attempt to bring the Top 40 format back to New York, with rock station WPLJ having begun the evolution to top 40 in June. WHTZ was programmed to remind listeners of one-time AM powerhouse WABC, which had gone from a tight Top 40 format to leaning Disco in early 1979 to leaning adult rock later in 1979, to leaning adult contemporary in 1980 and then evolving to Adult Contemporary/Talk in 1981, before it finally flipped to an all-talk format on May 10, 1982.

Within 74 days of signing on, WHTZ had climbed from last place to first in the New York Arbitron ratings book. Over the years, Z100 stayed with a top 40 format, with WPLJ behind them in the ratings.

Las Vegas Radio: Audacy To Silence N/T KXNT AM

News Talk 840 KXNT will end its nearly 40-year run on Las Vegas AM radio effective Sept. 1. Host Alan Stock announced the closure Friday at the start of his “News at 8” program, reading from a prepared statement while wearing headphones. 

“I have an important update for our listeners. Effective September 1, News Talk 840 KXNT will conclude its broadcast operation,” Stock said. “To put it simply, the station’s transmitter site is shutting down. Our parent company, Audacy, explored a number of alternative transmission options, but ultimately wasn’t able to identify a technically and financially viable long-term solution. This wasn’t an easy decision.”

Stock’s locally produced show, the only one of its kind on the otherwise nationally syndicated conservative talk station, will move to KDWN 101.5-FM in the 8 a.m. weekday slot beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1. 

National programs from hosts including Glenn Beck and Mark Levin will no longer air in Las Vegas but remain available elsewhere.

“I know KXNT has been a part of this community for a long time, and it’s been an honor to spend time with you every day,” Stock continued. “I’m incredibly grateful to our listeners, our advertisers, and everyone who has made the station such an important part of Las Vegas.”

Station Senior Vice President/Marketing Manager Gina Massenzi said the approximately 40 full- and part-time staffers will remain with Audacy.

KXNT 840 AM (50 Kw, DA2)

KXNT-AM 840 signed on in 1986 as KVEG, mixing talk and middle-of-the-road music. It became KXNT in 1997—the “NT” standing for News/Talk—and adopted a traditional talk-radio format whose signature national program was “The Rush Limbaugh Show.”

L-A Radio: Non-Com KCAL Flips to Classic Rock

As of today, KCAL-FM 96.7 is dropping its active rock format and live on-air personalities for an automated “All Music, All the Time” classic rock approach.

Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation, the station’s owner, announced the shift in a news release Friday, saying the change expands KCAL’s musical focus with a broader selection of classic rock spanning multiple generations while sharply reducing interruptions. 

The Inland Empire station, licensed to Redlands and serving the Riverside-San Bernardino market, will emphasize the songs and artists that defined the genre, delivering a more consistent, music-heavy listening experience.

“KCAL has a longstanding history in the Inland Empire, and this next chapter builds on the station’s strong rock heritage,” said Kelly Sanders, Chief Operating Officer of Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation. “We rebuilt KCAL around the music our listeners grew up on — the songs and the artists that made classic rock — and we built it right here at home. KCAL will deliver a focused, consistent listening experience with broader appeal for both our audience and advertising partners.”

The move also creates two complementary adult-targeted music brands for the company in the region. KCAL’s new classic rock programming will pair with sister station KOLA-FM 99.9’s classic hits format, giving advertisers distinct options for reaching established adult consumers.

The format change comes with the dismissal of the entire on-air staff. Among those let go were evening host and program director John DeSantis (six years with the station), longtime afternoon host and programming director Daryl Norsell (42 years at KCAL, including 36 years in afternoons), morning host and imaging director Patrick Tish (13 years), and midday host and public service director Nikki Preston (eight years). 

DeSantis confirmed the layoffs in a public Facebook post, describing the shift to an “automated, human-less format” as shocking and thanking listeners for their support.

KCAL-FM signed on in 1965 and has long been a rock fixture in the Inland Empire. It evolved from earlier rock formats into active rock (branded “96.7 KCAL Rocks”) that mixed current and recent rock with harder-edged classics. The station’s studios are in Redlands, with its transmitter near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Newsom Urges CA To Settle With Paramount+

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has urged state Attorney General Rob Bonta to settle California’s lawsuit challenging Paramount’s proposed $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing risks to Hollywood jobs if the deal is blocked.

Newsom has privately told people involved in the matter that preventing the merger could damage employment in the state’s entertainment industry. His office is pressing Bonta to seek an out-of-court resolution rather than continue litigation that could delay or derail the transaction.

Bonta retains independent authority to decide whether to settle, pursue the case, or take other action. The attorney general’s office has not publicly indicated whether it will follow the governor’s preference.

The lawsuit targets the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal on antitrust or related grounds under California law. Newsom’s intervention reflects concern that prolonged legal uncertainty or a successful challenge could harm the state’s film and television workforce, a key economic sector.

ESPN Layed-Off Baseball Voice Karl Ravech...Or Did They?

Karl Ravech was laid off by ESPN last week after 33 years and is already back on the air.

However, the longtime play-by-play announcer called Thursday night’s Atlanta Braves-Washington Nationals game and will handle additional summer assignments, including the Aug. 12 New York Yankees-Seattle Mariners contest and some Little League World Series coverage, where he has served as the lead voice, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter who was granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Ravech learned of his dismissal when a reporter contacted him Tuesday morning; an ESPN executive shortly afterward confirmed he had been let go.

Ravech, 61, had been earning well into seven figures annually as the lead play-by-play voice on “Sunday Night Baseball” and a college basketball announcer. ESPN lost “Sunday Night Baseball” rights to NBC this season but retains roughly 30 regular-season games, some of which Ravech will still call.

Network expectations are that once Ravech finishes these remaining baseball assignments, he will no longer appear on ESPN.

CBS Sports Puts Tony Romo On Leave

CBS has placed No. 1 NFL game analyst Tony Romo on indefinite leave eight days after his arrest for operating while under the influence.

“Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice,” the network said in a statement Friday.

JJ Watt, who debuted as a game analyst on CBS’s No. 2 team last season, will fill in with play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the top broadcast team in Romo’s absence. 

CBS said it will announce its full talent roster for the 2026 NFL season at a later date.

Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, was pulled over by police in Wisconsin on July 23 and charged with OWI. A police report said he failed field sobriety tests. TMZ posted bodycam footage of the arrest in which Romo declined a breathalyzer test. Police also found an open container of alcohol in his vehicle, according to the Associated Press. The 46-year-old has not publicly commented on the incident.

Romo joined CBS in 2017 after 13 seasons with the Cowboys and was set to begin his 10th season on the network’s top NFL team. He quickly became a media sensation, earning the nickname “Romostradamus” for his play predictions, and secured a 10-year, $180 million contract extension in 2020. 

In recent years he has faced growing criticism over on-air miscues and a perceived lack of work ethic. 

CBS could potentially save $72 million from the remaining four years of his deal if it uses the arrest to terminate the contract. Should the network move on from Romo, Watt—who earned praise working with Ian Eagle last season—would be the clearest full-time replacement as No. 1 game analyst.

FCC Chair Defends FCC Actions

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Friday defended his agency’s recent actions against ABC, saying broadcasters have a duty to “operate in the public interest” and that the FCC is simply working to restore that standard.

In a Fox Business Network interview with Maria Bartiromo, Carr said broadcasters “struck a deal with the American people. You broadcasters get subsidized access, free access to a valuable public resource, the airwaves, worth billions of dollars. In exchange, you have to operate in the public interest.”

“Look, as a country, we should have a trusted, respected news media, and we’re not there,” Carr said. “So I hope more broadcasters return to their public interest obligations.”

Americans have been subsidizing broadcast media to the tune of billions by giving TV stations free use of a valuable public resource—the airwaves.

In exchange, broadcasters are required to operate in the public interest.

The FCC is holding them accountable to that standard. pic.twitter.com/5jERd6dvv4

— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) July 31, 2026

The comments came one day after ABC, in its latest filing opposing the FCC’s early review of eight ABC local broadcast licenses, accused the agency of a brazen attempt to chill constitutionally protected free speech. ABC charged that the Commission is retaliating simply because it dislikes the political content of ABC’s shows.

“There is no question why the Commission is singling out these eight stations,” the network’s filing stated. “Each is owned by ABC, and the Administration has openly and repeatedly called for the revocation of ABC’s licenses, because it dislikes the content and viewpoints expressed on ABC network programs.”

FCC Concerned With Broadcast Network Affiliation Changes

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency has launched investigations into a wave of Big Four network affiliation changes, warning that some recent moves by broadcasters may violate federal policy.

In a Thursday interview with Policyband, Carr said the FCC is “taking investigatory action right now on at least one, if not more, of these affiliation transactions.” 

Brendan Carr

He expressed particular concern that the flurry of affiliation activity risks leaving local television stations in a weaker bargaining position relative to the major networks that supply them with national news and entertainment programming.

Carr stressed that broadcasters cannot treat affiliation swaps as an unregulated free-for-all. “This is not the Wild West, or as I like to say, it’s not Nam. There are some rules of the road,” he said. “To the extent that some broadcasters are of the view that this is a complete and total Wild West, I think that they are mistaken in that position.”

The investigations underscore the FCC’s intent to enforce existing rules governing network-station relationships amid a period of significant realignment in the television industry.

Satellite Radio’s Decline Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Three of Forbes’ 20 highest-paid podcasters of 2026 are on SiriusXM.  The satellite radio service claims SmartLess hosts Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes; motivational speaker Mel Robbins; and Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper. 

All signed deals with SiriusXM within the past two years worth at least $32 million each.

Their presence among the top earners underscores the hosts’ proven ability to attract listeners and drive subscriptions. Companies of SiriusXM’s scale do not pay those sums without expecting returns, and the hosts’ choice of the platform over alternatives signals both the company’s forward-looking strategy and the podcasters’ substantial influence.

According to Forbes' contributor Toni Fitzgerald, this success challenges a decades-old narrative of satellite radio’s impending demise. Critics have predicted its end almost since launch, with Time naming it one of the 10 biggest tech failures of the prior decade in 2009 and Datamation delivering similar last rites around the same time. 

Both pointed to the medium’s expensive, limited technology: building, maintaining and launching satellites is far more capital-intensive than cloud-based internet delivery. Those high startup costs contributed to the 2008 merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio into SiriusXM.

More recent challenges have included automakers’ growing preference for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which reduces demand for factory-installed satellite receivers. To retain its large subscriber base, SiriusXM has offered deep discounts—sometimes cutting monthly prices to just a few dollars—which temporarily increased churn when rates later rose.

Yet SiriusXM has navigated these pressures and secured high-profile talent including the SmartLess team, Cooper and Robbins. It remains the longtime home of Howard Stern, still one of radio’s most recognizable voices despite a relative decline in star power. Satellite radio has settled into a defined niche, stabilizing its subscriber numbers through exclusive early and ad-free access to popular podcast content. 

That resilience points to a more positive outlook for what increasingly appears to be a durable legacy platform.

Stern Staffers Fight For More Severance

Many of Howard Stern’s former employees are fighting for larger severance packages after being laid off from his SiriusXM show earlier this month.

Stern cut about a dozen staffers as he prepares to reduce his output to just one new show per week after Labor Day. The laid-off workers rejected an initial offer of roughly one week of pay for each year worked and are instead pressing for more money, according to a report from the U.S. Sun. 

Some declined to sign nondisclosure agreements attached to the packages and continue to negotiate their exits, a source told the outlet. Others are now “feeling OK” about their final deals after talks with HR executives, another insider said.

Page Six reached out to a representative for Stern but did not immediately receive a response.

The 72-year-old host signed a new three-year contract with SiriusXM in December 2025 that he said would give him greater “flexibility.” He retained a core team of veteran producers amid the cuts, explaining that he “just doesn’t need that much content anymore.”

On air, Stern told listeners he was pleased with the arrangement: “I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all. More free time and continuing to be on the radio. I do like my days off. You know me, I’m never bored. I’m busy every minute.”

NAB: Revoking ABC Station Licenses Threatens 1A Rights

The National Association of Broadcasters has filed comments urging the FCC to renew the licenses of eight ABC-owned television stations, arguing that denial would violate First Amendment rights, risk censoring news coverage, and threaten the broadcast industry’s financial future.

The filing responds to “petitions to deny” submitted by outside groups seeking to block the renewals of ABC’s owned-and-operated stations. NAB stressed that the station renewal process is not an open-ended tool for reviewing every aspect of a licensee’s business, resolving claims belonging to other agencies or courts, or second-guessing protected editorial decisions.

“Contrary to many renewal opponents’ claims, [the station renewal process]...is not designed to be an open-ended vehicle for reviewing every aspect of a licensee’s or its corporate affiliates’ businesses, resolving claims committed to other agencies and courts, or second-guessing constitutionally protected editorial decisions,” NAB wrote. 

“The filings opposing renewal of the ABC stations’ licenses stray well beyond these statutory boundaries. They invite the Commission to evaluate whether and how the stations covered news and public affairs, which is precisely the type of editorial judgment protected by the First Amendment and Section 326’s prohibition against censorship. Yet none of the filers makes the prima facie showing required to establish that any programming aired by the stations violated the Communications Act, the FCC’s rules, or the stations’ public interest obligations.”

NAB further noted that the FCC limits consideration of non-FCC misconduct to four specific areas of adjudicated conduct—none of which apply here—and that Section 309(k)(1) requires evaluation of each station’s performance during its license term, not unrelated corporate activities such as theme parks, studios, or streaming platforms. Allowing such claims to affect renewals would ignore the statute, established precedent, and the approach the FCC took just two years ago when rejecting challenges to FOX 29 Philadelphia’s renewal.

The association also warned that uncertainty created by early challenges to license renewals will discourage investment in the broadcast industry.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr has repeatedly stated the agency’s interest in strengthening the financial stability of local broadcasters so they can expand local news coverage, citing that goal in initiatives involving broadcast sports rights, network-affiliate relations, and ownership caps.

Radio History: August 1

➦In 1905...Radio actress Alice Dorothy Margaret Frost born (Died  at age 92 – January 6, 1998). She was an inaugural member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre on radio and the stage, she later performed the role of Pamela North on the radio series Mr. and Mrs. North for nearly 10 years

Alice Frost

Frost debuted on radio at age 16 as a singer, participating in a duet with a friend on a Minneapolis station. By 1933, she was a member of the cast of The Criminal Court. In 1934, she was "one of the ghost voices during CBS-WABC's Forty-Five Minutes In Hollywood."

➦In 1937...Mutual radio debuted “The Goodwill Hour”, with its familiar phrase, “You have a friend and advisor in John J. Anthony.”  The show began in 1932 as a 30-minute talk program, possibly  the first advice program of any kind. He offered advice and counseling on domestic problems. It was loosely based on a radio show called the Goodwill Court.

➦In 1940...WOR-FM NYC signed-on as W2XOR

➦In 1963...WABC 95.5 FM first aired stereo programming.

In the early 1960s, WABC-FM began to program itself separately from WABC-AM. During the 1962–63 New York City newspaper strike, the station carried an news format for 17 hours daily. Two-and-a-half years before WINS launched its own around-the-clock, all-news format in April 1965, it was the first attempt at an all-news format in the New York market.

Wolfman Jack, Richard Dreyfuss

➦In 1973…"American Graffiti" premiered in Los Angeles.  It starred Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford, and Wolfman Jack.

➦In 1973...DJ John R Richbourg aired his final show on WLAC 1510 AM, Nashville, Tennessee after refusing to go along with a format change from R&B to Top 40. He resigned.

John R

In the mid-1950s, John R. became an influential figure in the fledgling black music trade by featuring ground-breaking R&B and early rock performers like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino on his program. Later John R capitalized on his reputation by becoming a manager to several artists, an occasional record producer, and later entrepreneur in Nashville's booming studio industry. Nashville has long had a national reputation for country music. It. also has always had studio facilities devoted to soul, R&B, and gospel.

Richbourg may have gained his most enduring reputation as a pitchman who used "down-home" phrasing to ad-lib copy for advertisers. One example: Now, friends, I know you got some soul. If you didn't, you wouldn't be listenin' to ol' John R., 'cause I got me some soul. I'll tell you somethin', friends. You can really tell the world you got soul with this brand-new Swinging Soul Medallion, a jewelry pendant.

John R sold exotic or unusual products, such as baby chicks from a Pennsylvania hatchery, family Bibles, hot-rod mufflers, and so on. According Wes Smith's book, The Pied Pipers of Rock 'n' Roll: Radio Deejays of the 50s and 60s (Longstreet Press, 1989), many such products turned out to be defective and/or scams, but few irate customers ever sought action against the station or manufacturers. One legitimate sponsor was Ernie's Record Mart, owned by a record label entrepreneur who specialized in recording local Nashville R&B acts.

Despite the popularity of newer Euro-American performers such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles, Richbourg continued to play chiefly African-American artists.

➦In 1981...MTV premiered. "Video Killed The Radio Star".

Howard Stern Hostile Work Environment Lawsuit Dismissed

A New York judge has granted Howard Stern’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his former executive assistant. New York State Supreme Court Justice Melissa A. Crane ruled Wednesday in favor of the radio host, his wife Beth Stern, and their production company One Twelve. 

In the order, Crane stated that some of Leslie Kuhn’s claims “are moot” and declared: “Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint is granted and the complaint is dismissed in its entirety, with costs and disbursements to defendants as taxed by the Clerk of the Court, and the Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly in favor of defendants.”

Kuhn sued on April 5, accusing the Sterns of creating a “hostile work environment” and engaging in “questionable business operations” before her February 2026 termination. She sought a declaratory judgment valued at “not less than $2.5 million” and aimed to void confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements she said were forced on her at the time of what she called a “manufactured” firing, rendering them “fraudulent and unenforceable.”

According to the complaint, Kuhn was promoted in January 2024 from office manager of SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show to Stern’s personal executive assistant. The Sterns then asked her to move to their Southampton, N.Y., residence, where she said she was required to manage mansion staff schedules and payroll, handle general household operations, and assist with Beth Stern’s at-home feline rescue and fostering efforts.

Stern’s side filed the motion to dismiss on April 29, 2026, describing the suit as “a thinly veiled attempted shakedown” in which Kuhn allegedly “hatched a plan to extract a staggering ‘hush-money’ payment.” 

Disney's ABC Accuses The FCC Of Intimidation

ABC accused the FCC on Thursday of launching an unprecedented intimidation campaign aimed at punishing the network for news coverage disliked by the Trump administration, after the agency ordered early reviews of licenses for eight Disney-owned stations.

Walt Disney-owned ABC said the FCC’s threat to revoke the stations’ broadcast licenses serves as a warning to other media companies: accommodate the administration’s preferred view of news coverage or face consequences. 

“The retaliation against ABC is a signal to every media company in the country: accommodate the administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price,” ABC stated in a filing. 

The agency’s objective, it added, is “a media industry too fearful of official reprisal to report the news freely.”

Brendan Carr

FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered the early reviews in April, even though the stations’ license renewals were not due for consideration until October 2028. The FCC had not ordered such an early review in more than 50 years. The move came a day after President Trump urged ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Carr could take further action after a final public comment deadline on August 5. He did not immediately comment Thursday.

ABC reported that more than 150,000 comments have been filed, with over 95% supporting the stations. Numerous local officials and groups in the eight states have also filed in support. “From its earliest days, this administration has made clear its intent to punish ABC for its news coverage and to create a chilling effect on ABC and others,” the network said.

San Fran Radio: Andre Yancey Named Brand Manager At KRBQ-FM

102 JAMS (KRBQ-FM), an Audacy station in San Francisco, announces Andre Yancey as its new Brand Manager. In this role, Yancey will oversee the station's content strategy, talent, operations, and branding. He will continue to serve as the Assistant Brand Manager for 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York.

“As a Bay Area native, Andre understands what the community wants and needs,” said Skip Dillard, Urban AC and Throwbacks Format Vice President, Audacy. “We look forward to seeing how his creative instincts and acute eye for technology come together to elevate the brand and deepen its connection with listeners.”

Andre Yancey

“Radio has been part of my life since I was a kid growing up in the South Bay – a companion, a soundtrack, a way to feel connected,” said Yancey. “Complex has been an incredible steward of JAMS, and we're going to continue building on everything he's put in place. JAMS is a love letter to The Bay and its contribution to culture, and more than ever, companionship and connection are what radio is about. Thank you to Skip Dillard, Chris Oliviero, Dave Richards, Jeff Sottolano, Jim Ryan, and Kieran Geffert.”

An accomplished content strategist, Yancey brings over a decade of expertise in brand management, audience growth and digital transformation to his work. He began his radio career in the Bay Area on the KMEL street team, eventually working alongside the station’s legendary Morning Zoo. In 2021, Yancey joined Audacy as the Director of Morning Content Operations for WCBS-FM in New York, where he successfully relaunched the flagship morning program post-pandemic. Shortly after, he helped launch 94.7 The Block, earning consecutive Gracie Awards and building the platform into Audacy’s most-used urban streaming brand.

📻Listeners can tune in to 102 JAMS (KRBQ-FM) in San Francisco on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

SiriusXM COO Wayne Thorsen Exits

SiriusXM Chief Operating Officer Wayne Thorsen is leaving the company less than two years after joining to help reshape it around technology, product development and operational efficiency.

The satellite radio company disclosed the departure Thursday while reporting second-quarter earnings, saying only that Thorsen had “decided to leave the company.”  CEO Jennifer Witz briefly noted the move on the earnings call before shifting to financial results.

Wayne Thorsen

“We appreciate Wayne’s many contributions to SiriusXM and thank him for his service,” Witz said. “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Thorsen joined in December 2024 as executive vice president and chief operating officer, a newly created role. He previously served as chief business officer at ADT and held senior positions at Google, SoFi, Microsoft and Viacom. He oversaw product and technology organizations, business development, corporate strategy, subscriber acquisition and key commercial activities.

At the time of his hiring, Witz said he would play a central role in executing SiriusXM’s revamped strategy of sharpening focus on its core subscription business while improving operating efficiency and returns on technology and marketing investments.

SiriusXM has not announced who will assume Thorsen’s responsibilities or whether it plans to fill the COO position.

DC Radio WTOP Ending 19-Year Simulcast In Maryland

Hubbard’s all-news WTOP is ending its 19-year simulcast on WTLP in the Frederick, Maryland, area and leasing the frequency to Christian broadcaster K-Love through 2029.

WTLP 103.9 FM (350 watts)

The move places the station under the Contemporary Christian Music network’s umbrella alongside former WINC-FM 92.5 in Winchester, Virginia, and former Mix 107.3 (WRQX) in Washington. A pending acquisition of 100.7 WZBA in Westminster, Maryland, is also underway.

WTOP listeners in Frederick—due north of Montgomery County via I-270—are being directed to the station’s main 103.5 FM signal, a 44 kW Class B facility that delivers a strong in-car signal but lacks a city-grade contour in Frederick. 

Streaming is offered as an alternative.

Hubbard acquired WTOP in April 2011 as part of a $505 million purchase of 17 stations from Bonneville International Corp. The lease announcement coincides with WTOP General Manager Joel Oxley’s planned departure after decades leading the station.

TV Ratings: GMA Tops Broadcast Morning Shows

“Good Morning America” ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers (2.792 million) for July 2026, based on based on Most Current Big Data+Panel Ratings. “GMA” outdelivered NBC’s “Today” (2.779 million) and “CBS Mornings” (1.627 million).

“Good Morning America” averaged 2.743 million Total Viewers, 442,000 Adults 25-54 and 320,000 Adults 18-49 during the week of July 20, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

• “GMA” ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers, leading NBC’s “Today” on Monday (+142,000 – 2.747 million vs. 2.065 million), Thursday (+12,000 – 2.667 million vs. 2.655 million) and Friday (+20,000 – 2.720 million vs. 2.700 million).
• “GMA” improved year to year in Total Viewers (+3% – 2.743 million vs. 2.664 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% – 320,000 vs. 274,000).
• “GMA” cut its gaps with “Today” week to week in both Adults 25-54 (-8% – 87,000 vs. 95,000) and Adults 18-49 (-57% – 24,000 vs. 56,000). “GMA” delivered its narrowest news demo performance with “Today” in 6 months — since w/o 1/12/26.
• “GMA” (2.743 million, 442,000 and 320,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Mornings” (1.592 million, 219,000 and 151,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+1.151 million), Adults 25-54 (+223,000) and Adults 18-49 (+169,000). In addition, “GMA” led “CBS Mornings” in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 for the last 1,435 weeks overall — since w/o 1/18/99.

Nashville Radio: Kelly Sutton Succeeds Bill Cody At WSM-AM

WSM Radio will launch “The Kelly Sutton Show” on Aug. 10, airing weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Longtime WSM Radio personality and Grand Ole Opry host Charlie Mattos will serve as producer and co-host alongside WSM Studio Director Annie Ney. 

WSM personality and Sutton’s Amazon Music co-host Amber Anderson will contribute regularly. 

Segments of the show will stream across WSM’s social media platforms.

Sutton, a CMA and ACM Award-nominated broadcaster and the first-ever female Grand Ole Opry announcer, previously co-hosted WSM’s “Coffee, Country & Cody” for five years. 

She will continue hosting her nationally syndicated show “Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton,” Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast, and “The Nashville Show” on Absolute Radio Country in the United Kingdom.

“I am truly honored to be entrusted with carrying on the incredible legacy of WSM Radio,” Sutton said. “Being part of Coffee, Country & Cody for the past five years has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Bill Cody was so much more than a coworker—he was a dear friend, a mentor, and someone who helped shape both my career and my love for this audience. Our listeners have always felt like family, and that won’t change. I’m excited to help create a morning show that’s filled with laughter, great music, and genuine connection. Charlie, Annie, Amber and I can’t wait to wake up with our listeners each morning and continue the tradition of making WSM feel like home.”

WSM General Manager Eric Marcum added: “Kelly’s personality, her passion for the music community, and the genuine relationships she’s built with artists and fans is exactly what our listeners connect with. We’re excited to continue WSM’s long tradition of live, local programming that connects with audiences around the world. The Kelly Sutton Show will carry on the authentic Nashville storytelling that have been at the heart of WSM and The Grand Ole Opry for more than 100 years.”

Philly's WHYY Finalizes Deal To Acquire Penn State Broadcasting

WHYY Philadelphia has finalized its acquisition of Penn State University’s broadcast properties for $1 and filed the transaction with the Federal Communications Commission.

The deal, first agreed to nine months earlier, transfers Public News/Talk/Classical 91.5 WPSU-FM and PBS affiliate WPSU-TV in State College to WHYY. It also includes the WPSU-FM simulcast translators 90.1 WPSX Kane, 92.1 W221BD DuBois, 100.9 W265BB Bradford, 102.5 W273BE Huntingdon, 104.7 W284AK Clearfield, and 106.7 W294AE Altoona

Penn State loses direct ownership and operational control of its primary public broadcasting outlets but retains educational partnerships and gains financial relief to refocus on its core mission. WPSU-TV (PBS affiliate) and WPSU-FM (NPR member station, with its translators/simulcasters) transfer to WHYY as a standalone subsidiary for $1. 

The stations keep the WPSU call letters and local branding, with commitments to maintain operations in State College (including leased facilities near campus) for at least three years and to prioritize local content where feasible. 

This ends Penn State’s role as licensee and operator of the stations that have served roughly 1.5 million people across central and northern Pennsylvania for decades with local news, educational programming, cultural content, and community outreach. 

The university no longer subsidizes the outlets (previously about $3.4 million annually) or controls programming, staffing, or day-to-day decisions. Endowments and designated gifts move with the assets. Student opportunities continue: WHYY and Penn State have agreed to preserve hands-on experiences, internships, and partnerships with the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, which has long used WPSU as a training ground.

TGIF: Here's The Pulse For July 31

Radio Broadcasting

Yancey Now Bi-Coastal: 102 JAMS (KRBQ-FM) announces Andre Yancey as its new Brand Manager. In this role, Yancey will oversee the station's content strategy, talent, operations, and branding. He will continue to serve as the Assistant Brand Manager for 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York.

Sutton Succeeds Cody: WSM Radio will launch “The Kelly Sutton Show” on Aug. 10, airing weekdays. Longtime WSM Radio personality and Grand Ole Opry host Charlie Mattos will serve as producer and co-host alongside WSM Studio Director Annie Ney. 

WHYY Acquiring WPSU: WHYY Philadelphia has finalized its acquisition of Penn State University’s broadcast properties for $1 and filed the transaction with the FCC.

WTOP Simulcast Ending: Hubbard’s all-news WTOP is ending its 19-year simulcast on WTLP in the Hagerstown, Maryland, area and leasing the frequency to Christian broadcaster K-Love through 2029.

NAB Meets FCC Commissioner over Radio Ownership Caps

Led by President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt, the NAB met with Anna Gomez and her staff this week. The association also recently met with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty as well to support the commission’s proposal to remove the TV caps.

Following FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s announcement of an Aug. 6 vote on that proposal, Gomez, the lone Democrat commissioner, issued a sharp statement. “This unlawful effort to hand control of the public airwaves to billionaire buddies of this administration will destroy local newsrooms, silence community reporting and drive-up costs for the American families who depend on local stations for news and emergency alerts,” she said. She added that Congress set the 39% national cap in federal law and that the commission lacks authority to waive it.

Anna Gomez

In a Tuesday ex parte filing, NAB stressed that revising the local radio ownership rule is essential for the industry’s survival amid a shifting media landscape. Current rules limit a single entity to eight radio stations in the largest markets, with no more than five on either the AM or FM band. 

While no formal proceeding exists to lift the caps, radio groups have intensified lobbying as part of the FCC’s quadrennial review.

NAB wants the restrictions eliminated. “Local radio broadcasters cannot survive in today’s digital audio and advertising markets while hamstrung by three decades-old restrictions on their scale,” the association wrote. It cited data showing big tech and digital platforms dominating local ad markets at radio’s expense. Owning more local outlets would allow more diverse programming, including niche formats, boosting listenership and ad revenue, NAB argued.

Critics of relaxing the caps point to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a factor in radio’s declining local ad revenues. NAB countered that localism is costly and that radio’s economic viability is now in serious question, requiring regulatory relief immediately.

TV Ratings: Meet the Press Tops Sunday Talk Shows

Meet the Press with Kristen Welker was ranked the #1 Sunday public affairs show for key A25-54 demo viewers this past Sunday, July 26, according to Nielsen.

This Sunday, Meet the Press averaged 359,000 key A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +15,000 (+4%) and CBS by +39,000 (+12%). Meet the Press outperformed CBS — which continues to rate for just 30 minutes of its hour-long broadcast — for the fourth consecutive week. In addition, Meet the Press increased viewership across the board vs. last year. 

Meet the Press averaged 2.377 million total viewers this past Sunday. For the 2024-25 broadcast season, Meet the Press was the #1 Sunday public affairs show among key A25-54 demo viewers and ranks #1 season-to-date for the 2025-26 season. Meet the Press has never lost a month in the Washington, D.C. market among total viewers.

Sunday’s broadcast featured interviews with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and a “Meet the Moment” conversation with Sheinelle Jones.

Concerts Are Booming, Live Nation Profit Grows

Live Nation reported second-quarter revenue of $7.67 billion, up 9% and ahead of Wall Street estimates of $7.56 billion, as strong concert demand drove growth, particularly internationally.

Concert sales, which account for most of the company’s revenue, rose 8%. Profit climbed to $294.4 million, or $1.05 a share, from $243.4 million, or 41 cents a share, a year earlier—well above analysts’ expectations of 66 cents a share.

The Ticketmaster parent said it recorded its highest-ever second-quarter concert attendance of 49 million fans. International attendance at stadiums, arenas and festivals jumped more than 20%. In the U.S., amphitheater and arena attendance rose by double digits, while stadium attendance fell because of show timing.

“More artists are on the road than ever—and fans keep choosing to be in the room with them, driving the strongest concert ticket sales we’ve ever seen,” Chief Executive Michael Rapino said.

Underlying demand remains solid, with sell-through rates for U.S. large-venue shows through the end of the quarter at or above year-earlier levels. Ticket prices rose only in the low- to mid-single digits across stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters as the company emphasized affordability.

Apple Misses Services Revenue Estimates, Shares Plunge

Despite Strong Overall Q3 Results Apple reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $109.4 billion for the three months ended June 27, a 16% year-over-year increase, but its high-margin Services segment fell short of Wall Street expectations, triggering a more than 5% drop in the stock after hours.

Services revenue, which includes the App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple Pay and other offerings, rose 12% year over year to $30.74 billion. That figure came in below the consensus estimate of $31.36 billion, according to analysts.

The miss in the Services category—long viewed as Apple’s most profitable and resilient growth engine—overshadowed the broader beat on total sales. Investors reacted swiftly, sending shares of the company (ticker: AAPL) down more than 5% in extended trading.

The results cover Apple’s fiscal third quarter, which ended June 27. While overall revenue growth remained robust at 16%, the softer-than-expected Services performance raised questions about near-term momentum in the company’s subscription and digital content businesses amid ongoing competitive pressures and regulatory scrutiny in key markets.

Ad Revenue At Amazon Jumps 26 Percent

Amazon reported second-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations, driven by strong growth in its AWS cloud computing and advertising businesses, with few weak spots across the company.

Net sales rose 20% to $200.6 billion from $167.7 billion a year earlier. Operating income climbed 43% to $27.5 billion. Net income surged to $62.6 billion from $18.2 billion, lifted by a $53.4 billion non-operating gain primarily from Amazon’s investment in Anthropic.

The company also raised its full-year capital expenditures forecast by $20 billion to $220 billion to stay competitive.

Advertising revenue grew 26% to $19.8 billion. On the earnings call, President and CEO Andy Jassy said Sponsored Products remains the largest offering and a key growth driver, while noting progress in agentic and conversational ad experiences within Alexa+ and Alexa for Shopping. He highlighted strength in sports advertising, including 30 new NBA advertisers in the first year of that partnership, with inventory selling out for Thursday Night Football, the NBA, WNBA and NASCAR.