Good Morning Radio! Start With The Pulse For Wed Sep2

Radio Broadcasting

CMA Finalists: The Country Music Association has announced the finalists for the 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards.

Shuffling Channels: SiriusXM overhauled its channel lineup Tuesday, dropping Howard Stern’s second channel after about 20 years and adding a slate of local sports-radio simulcasts from Audacy and Good Karma Brands.

Castor Returns: iHeartMedia has named Tommy Castor Market President of its Salt Lake City cluster, effective immediately.  He will oversee KAAZ-FM, KJMY-FM, KNRS-FM, KNRS-AM, KODJ-FM and KZHT-FM.

Media Industry

'Wheel' Voice Out: Longtime “Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended and his role is being recast after Sony Pictures Television said it learned of unspecified allegations against him.

Romo Pleads: Tony Romo pleaded no contest to the civil offense of operating while intoxicated (OWI) on Tuesday, a charge connected to the CBS NFL analyst’s July 23 arrest in Wisconsin.

Simply Miley: Miley Cyrus is rebranding her stage name to simply "Miley" and announced her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, set for release on Sept. 18, along with two Hollywood Bowl concerts on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18.

Dolly's Star: One week after her death, repair work was underway Tuesday at Dolly Parton‘s Hollywood Walk of Fame star, which was apparently vandalized by someone who scratched over the singer’s name.

U-S News

Kirk Suspect: A Utah judge ruled that there is probable cause to try 23‑year‑old Tyler Robinson for the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University, after prosecutors presented video, DNA and alleged confession evidence.

Heating Up: The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire Tuesday as the two countries continued to battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said the U.S. strikes were launched in retaliation for Iran’s attempt to mine the strait and target American servicemembers in the Middle East over the weekend.

Markey Wins: In a contest where age and generational change were featured prominently, 80-year-old incumbent Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey handily defeated Rep. Seth Moulton Tuesday, the Associated Press and NBC News have projected. With nearly 75% of the vote early on, Markey led Moulton by nearly a 3-to-1 margin, according to the AP. The race was called about 30 minutes after the polls closed.

'Wheel' Announcer Suspended From Show

Jim Thornton

Longtime “Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended and his role is being recast after Sony Pictures Television said it learned of unspecified allegations against him. A Sony Pictures Television spokesperson told USA TODAY on Sept. 1: “We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.” 

TMZ first reported the suspension. The studio has not detailed the allegations or the length of the suspension. Multiple outlets, citing TMZ, have linked the investigation to a May 14 incident on American Airlines Flight 1276, when a passenger reportedly complained to a flight attendant. The airline said law enforcement met the plane on arrival at Los Angeles International Airport “following concerns reported by a customer onboard.” 

Thornton was questioned and released and was not taken into custody, according to those reports. American Airlines has not named him. 

Tony Romo Pleads No Contest To OWI Charges

Tony Romo

Tony Romo pleaded no contest to the civil offense of operating while intoxicated (OWI) on Tuesday, a charge connected to the CBS NFL analyst’s July 23 arrest in Wisconsin. In a statement posted on Instagram, Romo added that he over-relied on alcohol following his 14-year NFL career to help him stop using pain medication.

“I own this completely,” Romo, 46, wrote. “Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain. That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.

“None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take full responsibility for them,” the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback continued. “I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes.”

In the statement, Romo said he was turning his attention to his health, family, and “in time, my return to CBS,” and asked for privacy.

After 33 Years, ESPN Added Insult To Firing of Karl Ravech

Karl Ravech finished his 33-year ESPN career Sunday by calling the Little League World Series championship game, then said in a Washington Post profile published Monday that he would have been willing to take a pay cut or reduce his workload to remain at the network. 

The Insult: That conversation, he said, never happened. 

SCOTUS Considers Lowest Political Unit Rates

Republican congressional and Senate campaign committees have asked the Supreme Court to freeze a Fourth Circuit ruling that stripped political parties of discounted broadcast advertising rates, with the FCC and DOJ backing their bid to restore the policy before the general-election advertising window opens Friday.

The National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee filed an emergency application seeking an immediate administrative stay while the justices consider the request and a longer stay while they petition for review. 

The dispute goes first to Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles emergency matters from the Fourth Circuit.

MLB Yankees Pushback On Boston Announcer's Comments

Will Flemming

New York Yankees players are pushing back after Boston Red Sox radio announcer Will Flemming called Jazz Chisholm Jr. a “bush league player” and suggested a Red Sox pitcher throw at Yankees catcher Austin Wells during Sunday’s series finale.

Chisholm was among those who responded Monday after Flemming criticized him for stealing two bases with the Yankees ahead 7-1 in the eighth inning. Several teammates also objected to Flemming’s suggestion that pitcher Jovani Moran retaliate by beaning Wells.

“They’re called unwritten rules because you’re not really breaking any rules,” Chisholm told reporters before Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. “You’ve seen teams — actually them — do the same thing where they’re pouring on runs. We didn’t have nothing to say or nothing to do about it. That’s just showing how unprofessional he is.”

Flemming later apologized on social media.

“Since I have been receiving nonstop calls and threats, I felt like it was important to hop back on here and say: My comments during yesterday’s broadcast crossed a line. I’m emotional and a fan at heart and that bled into the broadcast,” he posted. “I meant no disrespect to the Yankees players or organization. I could and should have used different words. These rivalry games get me fired up; I apologize for letting the emotion of the moment get the best of me.”

SiriusXM Reshuffles Channel Line-Up

SiriusXM overhauled its channel lineup Tuesday, dropping Howard Stern’s second channel after about 20 years and adding a slate of local sports-radio simulcasts from Audacy and Good Karma Brands.

Howard 101 is gone. Howard 100 remains on channel 100. Andy Cohen’s Radio Andy moves from channel 102 to 101, taking the slot long used for Stern archives and secondary programming. 

The change coincides with Stern’s reduced live schedule—one weekly show rather than the former twice-a-week cadence—and follows 2026 staff cuts tied to the Stern channels.

SLC Radio: Tommy Castor Return to iHM As Area President

iHeartMedia has named Tommy Castor Market President of its Salt Lake City cluster, effective immediately.  He will oversee KAAZ-FM, KJMY-FM, KNRS-FM, KNRS-AM, KODJ-FM and KZHT-FM.

Castor will lead the market’s business strategy, revenue growth and client partnerships while overseeing the local organization. He reports to Glynn Alan, Area President for iHeartMedia Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

Dubuque Radio: Longtime GM Perry Mason Retires From Cluster

Longtime Radio Dubuque General Manager Perry Mason has retired after more than four decades with the Iowa radio group. Co-owner Marty Schibbelhut will assume leadership of the cluster.Mason oversaw Radio Dubuque’s four stations: Hot AC KATF (92.9 KAT FM), KDTH-AM (1370), country WVRE (101.1 The River) and rock KGRR (97.3 The Rock). 

In that role he guided local news, music, sports, public service and community programming for listeners across the Tri-State area. A Dubuque native and Hempstead High School graduate, Mason first worked in radio as a teenage board operator. 

Musicians Sue AI Music Platform Suno

A group of musicians led by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell is suing AI music platform Suno, alleging the company lets users generate copycat songs by typing artists’ names without permission.

The proposed class action, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Boston, targets how Suno uses and compensates for artists’ name, image and likeness rather than copyrighted recordings themselves. Isbell is joined by Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker frontman David Lowery, blues musician Guy Forsyth and saxophonist Eduardo Calle.

“I’m Listening” Returns For Annual Mental Health Broadcast Special

As Audacy approaches a decade of its “I’m Listening” mental health initiative, the company will bring its 10th annual mental health broadcast special to listeners nationwide this September in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month and World Suicide Prevention Day, which is September 10.

The special program will air across Audacy’s portfolio of radio stations between Tuesday, September 8 and Sunday, September 13. It will feature artists, newsmakers and mental health professionals in honest and meaningful conversations about mental health, emotional well-being and the importance of speaking openly and listening without judgment. Through personal stories, expert perspectives and information about available resources, “I’m Listening” continues to create a safe space for audiences to connect, find support and know they are not alone.

Philly Radio: B101 Kathy’s Clips Raises $20K+

WBEB B101, an Audacy station in Philadelphia, raised over $20,000 and collected 560 inches of hair during the 17th Annual Kathy’s Clips Cut-A-Thon to benefit Wigs for Kids, a non-profit that provides custom hair replacement systems to children experiencing medical hair loss.

On August 28, “The Kathy Romano Show” broadcast live from TruBeauty Concepts in Southampton for the annual Cut-A-Thon, encouraging community members to donate their hair in exchange for free haircuts. The event drew 40 donors, including a dedicated supporter who gives every two years and a local family whose three sons returned for their second donation.

Radio History: Sep 2

Amanda Randolph

➦In 1896...Amanda Randolph born (Died from a stroke at age 70  – August 24, 1967).  She was the first African-American performer to star in a regularly scheduled network television show, appearing in DuMont's The Laytons.

She is best remembered as Kingfish’s mother-in-law in Amos & Andy, both radio & TV. In the late 1930’s she had been featured on the radio soaps Young Dr. Malone, Romance of Helen Trent and Big Sister.  She was one of several actresses to play Beulah on TV, and was a cast member on The Danny Thomas Show.

➦In 1906...Radio actress Barbara Jo Allen was born in NYC.

Barbara Jo Allen

In 1933, Allen (left) joined the cast of NBC's One Man's Family as Beth Holly, followed by roles on Death Valley Days, I Love a Mystery and other radio series. According to Allen, her Vera Vague character was “sort of a frustrated female, dumb, always ambitious and overzealous… a spouting Bureau of Misinformation.”

After Vera was introduced in 1939 on NBC Matinee, she became a regular with Bob Hope beginning in 1941. In the early 1940s, she was a regular on Signal Carnival, a weekly program on NBC-Pacific Red stations.

Allen appeared in at least 60 movies and TV series between 1938 and 1963, often credited as Vera Vague rather than her own name.

She died Sept. 14 1974, just 12 days after turning 68.

➦In 1929...WOR (NYC) ends affiliation with CBS radio network.

➦In 1931...Crosby made his solo radio debut on the radio show, "15 Minutes with Bing Crosby", on CBS Radio Network.

CMA Unveils Finalists for 2026 Broadcast Awards

CMA announces 2026 Broadcast Awards finalists; winners to be named ahead of Nov. 18 CMA Awards

The Country Music Association has announced the finalists for the 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards. 

Winners will be revealed in the coming weeks and recognized during the Pre-Telecast Ceremony of the 60th Annual CMA Awards, which air live Nov. 18 on ABC and Disney+ and the following day on Hulu.

RIAA Reports 6.9 Percent Recorded Music Revenue Jump

U.S. recorded music revenue hit $6 billion in the first half of 2026, up 6.9% from the same period in 2025, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s mid-year report released Tuesday. Every major revenue category rose year over year. 

Streaming remained the industry’s core engine, climbing 4.7% to $4.9 billion and accounting for 82% of total U.S. recorded-music income. Vinyl revenue jumped 17.7% to $554 million. Compact discs posted the sharpest percentage gain of any format, soaring 58.6% to $171 million. Synchronization licensing rose 18.2% to $232 million. 

Boston Radio: WEEI's Will Flemming Apologizes For Comments

Boston Red Sox radio announcer Will Flemming apologized Monday for saying a Red Sox pitcher should “drill” a New York Yankees batter during Sunday’s 16-1 loss in the Bronx.

Flemming, WEEI’s play-by-play voice, made the remarks in the eighth inning with the Yankees ahead by a wide margin. After Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm stole two bases with a six-run lead, Flemming called him a “bush-league” player and later said, “Wouldn’t you sort of like to see [Jovani] Morán drill [Austin] Wells right here?” 

When Wells homered, Flemming added that Morán “should fight Chisholm” and that Chisholm “plays the game the wrong way.”

On X, where he had not posted since December 2025, Flemming wrote that he was receiving “nonstop calls and threats” and that his comments “crossed a line.” 

These Streamers Benefit Most Often After Cord Cutting

Nearly one in three Americans who cancel traditional pay TV sign up for a new streaming service within a month, and they do so at five times the normal rate, according to new data from Antenna.

In the first quarter of 2026, Paramount+ was the most common first choice for those leaving cable or satellite, attracting 13.7% of new cord-cutters. Peacock also ranked among the top destinations. Both services combine large on-demand libraries with live sports from CBS and NBC, suggesting that sports and familiar programming remain priorities even as households leave bundled TV. 

Trump Urges Tax Incentives For Entertainment Industry

President Donald Trump on Monday urged Congress to immediately pass federal tax incentives to keep movie and television production in the United States, saying the entertainment industry needs legislation to create jobs at home.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said Republicans and Democrats should “get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America.” He called on lawmakers to approve “a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America.”

Trump said the idea followed a meeting with actor Jon Voight, who recommended federal tax incentives “to Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!” Voight had pressed the same proposal during a February meeting with Trump.

NBC News Supports MTP's Kristen Welker

NBC News is defending “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker after President Donald Trump said he would report her to the FCC over her description of his 2026 primary endorsement record. 

“Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand by her,” an NBC News spokesperson said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. 

In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump accused Welker of a “purposeful inaccuracy” after she said on a local NBC affiliate that he has had “some mixed results” with primary endorsements. He said she would be “reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment.” 

Trump cited recent Senate and House wins and claimed near-perfect success rates. Welker’s remarks, made in a pre-show live shot, noted that Trump would “loom large” over the midterms. She said he had “some mixed results” in primaries but had recently helped Sen. Darline Graham win a South Carolina runoff. 

Programmatic Ad Buying Expected To Accelerate At Radio

Programmatic buying still accounts for only about one-third of U.S. digital audio advertising—versus roughly 90% of digital ads overall—even as marketers pour more money into podcasts, streaming and, increasingly, over-the-air radio.

U.S. digital audio revenue reached about $8.4 billion in 2025, up 10.2%, according to IAB/PwC. 

Podcast ads grew faster, to about $2.9 billion, up 17.6%. Audio’s share of internet ad spending stayed near 2.8%. Industry estimates put programmatic digital audio at roughly $2.3 billion to $2.6 billion in 2026. By one 2026 count, 82% of marketers and agencies now buy some programmatic audio, up from 65% a year earlier.

The newest shift is broadcast radio entering the same pipes as streaming and podcasts. On Monday, Triton Digital and RCS said they are linking Triton’s ad platform to RCS’s Zetta playout software so stations can sell selected over-the-air spots programmatically without extra insertion hardware. Triton is starting with programmatic-guaranteed deals, not open auctions. Amazon DSP is separately working with iHeartMedia and aims to bring broader U.S. commercial radio and Sirius inventory into its omnichannel mix in 2027.