Trump: Howard Stern Has Gone Woke

UPDATE: Thursday 10AM: According to Nielsen MRI Fusion, Gutfeld! attracts more Independents and Democrats than all broadcast late-night programs. Notably, for the third quarter to date (7/1/24 - 9/16/24) Gutfeld! has averaged 2.7 million viewers and 408,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing all broadcast and late-night television including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS’ After Midnight and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Earlier Story...

Former President Trump expressed regret for not going after ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis during last week's presidential debate.

"I think my only regret is that I wanted to be elegant, and I didn't want to go after the anchors. I wish I did, in a way," Trump said during an appearance Wednesday on Fox News Channel's "Gutfeld!" 

"I was very unfairly treated by the anchor. I'm not fans of those guys anymore – and his hair was better five years ago," Trump quipped, referring to Muir, adding, "That happens with the clock."

Critics railed against Muir and Davis for repeatedly fact-checking Trump during the debate while going easy on Vice President Kamala Harris. 

"They didn't correct her once, and they corrected me- everything I said, practically," Trump said. 

The former president knocked the "fake news" for its fawning praise of Harris' debate performance, accusing her of producing a "word salad" during her first response after she was asked whether Americans are better off financially now than four years ago.

"If I were Winston Churchill- he was a great debater, by the way, and an elegant debater. If I were Winston Churchill, they would say, 'Well, he was okay, but he wasn't special tonight,'" Trump said.

Since Howard Stern has gone woke, his ratings have gone down: Trump https://t.co/HP3KiWBVw9 #FoxNews

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) September 19, 2024

Trump also addressed Sunday's assassination attempt against him, joking to Fox News' Greg Gutfeld, "I always said golf is a very dangerous game."

SiriusXM To Launch New Lower-Priced In-Car Plan

Sirius XM is planning to launch the cheapest in-car subscription ever at only $10 a month. This music-only plan will also include streaming services. reports SeekingAlpha.com.

Sirius is already offering a discounted $17-a-month Music Showcase plan which includes a limited in-car content offering, targeted at younger audiences. Why would the company start offering an even cheaper alternative to an already discounted offer?

SeekingAlpha first heard about these plans on September 11, during the interview with Jennifer Witz at the Goldman Sachs investor conference. The share price of Sirius XM is down 17% after the announcement. The markets are also clearly asking the same question.

Jennifer Witz

Sirius XM has been struggling to gain traction with younger user cohorts as the conversion rates decline. By further lowering the entry-level price, Sirius hopes to retain younger customers, but average revenue per user will come under pressure.

Sirius hopes to grow the subscriber base and increase the revenue pool, even as the average revenue per subscriber potentially declines. Subscriber numbers have been stagnant as of late, however, and management seems to think that pricing is the issue.

A significant price reduction for the in-car satellite product is a bald bet on the price sensitivity of the core customer base as well as the attractiveness of Sirius' proprietary content. There are risks involved, no doubt.

The launch of the new music-only in-car subscription plan was announced by the CEO of Sirius XM during an investor conference, and the company has yet to release an official announcement. The details are limited as of now. On the other hand, the markets have already reacted to the news.

To avoid confusion, late last year, Sirius XM has already launched a streaming-only subscription plan for $10 per month. These subscribers can only access the service through their mobile phones or other streaming devices.

This new announcement relates to a different plan entirely. For the same $10 a month, subscribers will now be able to listen in-car via their satellite receiver. The in-car satellite is the premium service generating the highest ARPU for Sirius.

As Jennifer Witz explained this: So in December, we launched streaming only at $9.99, which is a really compelling price point, and we've been looking for a better entry price entry price point for the car side of the business as well. And so we are going to start rolling out a $9.99 price point for MPAR, which is music only. It does include streaming.

The CEO has also acknowledged that there is a large population of car owners to whom the service offered by Sirius is not essential. These customers are a lot more price-sensitive by definition.

The management also seems to think of this low-price subscription strategy as an additional funnel for capturing loyal full-service and high ARPU customers.

Car AM Radio Bill Passes House Panel

 

A panel of U.S. House lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would force automakers to install AM radio in all new cars.

The measure, titled the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, advanced through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with broad bipartisan support. The only lawmaker to express outspoken opposition was Republican U.S. Rep. John James.

"I feel like I'm taking crazy pills," James said during the committee meeting. "We're putting an unfunded, unnecessary mandate for a problem that doesn't exist. This is exactly why people hate Washington."

Republican and Democratic lawmakers from both the House and Senate have advocated since early 2023 for a requirement that automakers keep AM radio in all new vehicles, especially as some companies — including Tesla Inc., Volkswagen AG, Volvo Cars and BMW AG — are eliminating the frequency from electric vehicles because battery motors interfere with signals.

Ford Motor Co. previously had plans to exclude AM radio from all new vehicles but reversed course after opposition from the public and policymakers.

Advocates for AM radio have said it is crucial for reaching people during weather emergencies and holds a special place in American culture as a longtime home for sports broadcasts and conservative talk shows.

James said the safety concern is overblown thanks to new developments in emergency preparedness.

"The Emergency Alert System has never been more robust. The Integrated Public Alert Warning System, IPAWS, pushes alerts through — in addition to AM radio — through digital AM/FM radio, internet-based radio, satellite radio, cellular networks," he said.

James continued: "Following a test of the system last fall, 95% of Americans reported getting that alert via their cellphones. You know how many people got it on AM radio? One percent. Over 98% of new cars today already come with AM radio, and even if they were phased out from every single new vehicle today, it would take 30 years to have no AM radio. So what are we even doing here?"

The auto industry has also opposed the requirement, with one top lobbying group previously calling it a "mandate" that is "unnecessary and contrary to the principles of a free-market economy."

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the industry's leading voice for regulatory affairs, made that statement in a May 2023 letter to lawmakers.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) commends the House Energy and Commerce Committee for its strong bipartisan passage, by a roll call vote of 45-2, of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act out of committee today. 

“NAB is grateful for the leadership of Chairs Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Gus Bilirakis, Ranking Members Frank Pallone and Jan Schakowsky and the committee members for their recognition of AM radio’s unique and vital role in protecting public safety,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “As one of the most reliable and resilient communications platforms, AM radio continues to be a lifeline for communities in times of emergency. We urge congressional leadership to ensure this bill moves forward and becomes law, safeguarding AM radio’s indispensable service to the public.”

TV Ratings: Cable News Rebounds

After a sleepy post-Labor Day week, the big three cable networks saw double digit week-to-week and year-to-year gains courtesy of the Sept. 10 match-up between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. That ABC News-hosted debate attracted over 67 million viewers across 17 outlets, including broadcast, cable and digital platforms.

Fox News saw the biggest viewership during Debate Week, but the biggest gains were posted by MSNBC and CNN, with the former network finishing in the No. 2 spot in every measured category except the primetime Adults 25-54 demo. As of now, Harris and Trump are unlikely to share a debate stage again, but a rematch would almost certainly continue to lift all boats.

According to TV Newser citing Nielsen live plus same-day data, Fox News saw its primetime viewership rise to 3.145 million total viewers and 470,000 A25-54 viewers for week-to-week gains of +41% and +70% in both of those categories. Total day numbers were 1.576 million viewers in the former category and 229,000 in the latter for bumps of +16% and +30%, respectively. On Debate Night, FNC finished first among cable outlets with both total viewers and the demo.

On the basic cable charts, Fox News held onto the top spot among total primetime viewers and stayed second in the primetime demo. It repeated in both of those positions across total day.

MSNBC enjoyed the biggest week-to-week primetime gains with an audience of 2.088 million total viewers and 284,000 A54-54—a massive +88% and +154% rise over last week. That  powered the network into the No. 2 spot among all basic cable outlets with total viewers across both dayparts. Demo was a slightly different story as MSNBC finished fourth in primetime behind CNN and ranked third in total day.

CNN’s biggest success story came in the primetime demo, with 303,000 A25-54 viewers tuning in for a +146% gain over last week. Among total primetime viewers, the network—which hosted the June 27 debate between Trump and President Joe Biden that directly led to Harris taking over the ticket—approached the 2 million mark with 1.190 million total viewers for an 80% week-to-week gain. Notable: For the second week in a row, the network was right on the heels of MSNBC in the total day demo with only 1,000 viewers separating them.

While it snuck past MSNBC into the No. 3 spot on the basic cable charts for primetime demo viewers, CNN otherwise had to content itself with fourth-place finishes in primetime total viewers and the total day demo. It ranked third behind its rivals with total viewers across total day.

Podcasts Credited With Increase In Spoken Word Consumption

Thanks to Podcasts, the increase in spoken word audio content consumption among the 13-34 age group has seen significant growth. 

According to Edison Research, this demographic now spends 23% of their daily audio time with spoken word content, compared to just 11% a decade ago.

This change is largely driven by the rise of podcasts, which have become incredibly popular among younger audiences. The variety and accessibility of spoken word content across different platforms—like radio, streaming services, and audiobooks—also contribute to this trend

When compared to 2014 data and you can see the disparity between listeners age 13-34 and older demographics when it comes to share of time spent with spoken word audio. Those age 13-34 were separated from those age 35-54 by 11 percentage points and separated from those age 55+ by 15 percentage points.

 A decade later, the 13-34s have closed the share gap significantly to only five percentage points.

ESPN’s MNF Attracts 15M+ Viewers for Falcons-Eagles

ESPN’s Monday Night Football Week 2 matchup generated more than 15 million viewers (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, NFL+), as the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Philadelphia Eagles (September 16, 8:15 p.m. ET).

The audience of 15,038,000 viewers is ESPN’s third-best Monday Night Football viewership for an ESPN/ESPN2 game – which was not simulcast on ABC – since the 2019-20 season (50+ games). The audience is virtually tied with New England at Buffalo (15,145,000 viewers on December 6, 2021) which was played in historically windy conditions and trailed the Las Vegas at Kansas City (15,888,000 viewers on October 10, 2022) where the Chiefs rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to win.

Excluding the audience from ESPN Deportes, Falcons-Eagles scored 15 million viewers (14,997,000) on ESPN and ESPN2.

In 2023, Monday Night Football featured two games in Week 2, one exclusively on ABC and another on ESPN.

Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli Draws Strong Audience

Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli delivered 1.34 million viewers (ESPN2), a 12% increase from the show’s 2023 regular season average (1.2 million viewers, 10 games).

Two Days of Exploding Devices Kill at Least 26 People

Japan’s Icom Inc., whose brand appears on walkie-talkies that exploded in Lebanon, said it halted production a decade ago of the model allegedly used in the attacks and is still investigating the situation, according to Bloomberg.

Icom exported its IC-V82 two-way radio to regions including the Middle East until October 2014, when it stopped making and selling the devices, the Osaka-based company said in a statement Thursday. It has also halted production of the batteries needed to operate the main unit, it said.

Thousands of electronic devices, including pagers and walkie-talkies, exploded over the last two days, killing at least 26 people and wounding more than 3,000. The militant group Hezbollah has accused the Israeli government of orchestrating the attacks, with tensions escalating further in the region. Israel has declined to comment.

*Turn up the volume:* A building with several walkie-talkies inside exploding simultaneously in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/cerhxjjpeV

— (((IsraelMatzav))) (@IsraelMatzav) September 18, 2024

Among the many outstanding questions is how explosive materials were planted in the devices. If the Icom walkie-talkies were first manufactured a decade ago, it’s possible they were modified well after sale to their original customers. The company can’t determine if the products are their own, it said.

Diddy Denied Bail Again, Remains Jailed

Sean "Diddy" Combs will remain in federal custody after his legal team argued for his release on a $50 million bond in court on Wednesday.

Judge Andrew L. Carter ruled that Combs would remain in jail due to the risk of witness tampering and obstruction in his case, according to USAToday, CNN and The New York Times. Carter said the government proved "by clear and convincing evidence" that no amount of bail could guarantee Combs wouldn't tamper with witnesses, per The Associated Press.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson told Carter that the hip-hop mogul has a "long history of intimidating both accusers and witnesses to his alleged abuse," according to AP, citing text messages from women who claimed Combs threatened to leak videos of them engaging in "Freak Offs" (sexual performances Combs allegedly orchestrated).

Outside of the New York court, Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said Judge Carter's ruling "did not go our way" but said Combs' legal team plans on appealing the bail denial.

Randy Goodman to Exit Sony Music Nashville

Randy Goodman

Randy Goodman, who has been chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville since 2015, will retire at the end of 2024, reports Billboard. 

“Thank you to Randy for leading our Nashville company through the last nine years and providing some of the biggest new superstars in the genre of country music,” Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer said in a statement announcing the news. “These artists are part of his legacy, and he should be proud of that. We look forward to building on the strong base he and his team have set up for the future.”

“Thank you to Rob for his leadership and support throughout my entire time at the company,” said Goodman, who has  also overseen Sony Music’s Christian music enterprise, Provident Entertainment, during that period. “The Sony Music Nashville and Provident Entertainment teams are some of the finest executives I’ve had the privilege of working with over my many years in this business. 

“There are too many people to thank specifically who helped and supported me along the way: my family foremost for their support and grace in letting me stay with it all these years,” he continued. “Looking back over my career’s arc, I am humbled and honored to have had the privilege to work with the artist legends I have; and as importantly, the teams I’ve been privileged to work with and lead. As excited as I am for what’s next no doubt it is bittersweet. It’s all been a gift.”

At Sony Music, Goodman and his team have shepherd the careers of stars Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Maren Morris, Megan Moroney and Nate Smith, as well as key breaking artists including Mitchell Tenpenny, Kameron Marlowe, Corey Kent and Morgan Wade among others. 

Goodman, a perennial on Billboard’s Country Power Players list, has spent more than 35 years as a pillar in the Nashville music community. 

Goodman’s extensive career includes 16 years at RCA Records, where he spent five years as senior vp, global marketing for RCA in New York prior to returning to Nashville. He also served as executive vp and GM of the RCA Label Group in Nashville, which would later become known as Sony Music Nashville. While at RCA, he worked with such artists as Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Dave Matthews Band, Wu-Tang Clan, Dolly Parton, Clint Black, Keith Whitley and The Judds. 

In 1997, Goodman opened Lyric Street Records for the Walt Disney Co., where he stayed until 2010, working with Rascal Flatts, Aaron Tippin and American Idol finalist Josh Gracin. 

Goodman is a former president and chairman of the CMA Board and a current member. No word yet on a succession plan.

Seattle Radio: KKWF-FM Hometown Holiday Concert On December 5

Audacy’s 100.7 The Wolf (KKWF-FM) is preparing for a festive season with the announcement of its annual Hometown Holiday concert, presented by Family Law Solutions. Country stars Jordan Davis, Randy Houser, Warren Zeiders, Jackson Dean, Priscilla Block and Zach Top will bring the party to the accesso ShoWare Center on Thursday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m. PT.

“We’re excited to bring our listener’s favorite event back this year with such a star-studded line-up,” said Drew Bland, Brand Manager, 100.7 The Wolf. “This year has everything from ACM and CMA Song of the Year Winner Jordan Davis to viral sensations like Priscilla, Warren and Zach Top, and the unbelievable vocals of Randy and Jackson. We can’t wait to celebrate this unmissable night together with our Country music fans in the Northwest.”

The concert presale begins Thursday, September 19, at 10:00 a.m. PT until 11:59 p.m. PT, or while supplies last. To get the presale link and code, download the free Audacy app and follow 100.7 The Wolf, or join the Wolfpack Email Club at seattlewolf.com. Tickets for 100.7 The Wolf’s Hometown Holiday concert go on sale Friday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. PT and can be purchased at accessoshowarecenter.com.

Exclusive packages for 100.7 The Wolf’s Hometown Holiday concert are also available for purchase. The VIP Experience package includes a seat in the first three rows of the venue and a separate entrance to the event, as well as a Hometown Holiday commemorative gift. The VIP Experience also includes access to the Wolf Hometown Holiday PreShow VIP Party, hosted by The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister, where the show will be interviewing the Hometown Holiday artists. The VIP package is a 21+ only experience.
Premium seat tickets include a seat in rows four through seven, along with a Hometown Holiday commemorative gift. For more information on the event and ticket packages, click here.

🎧Listeners can tune in to 100.7 The Wolf (KKWF-FM) in Seattle on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

3 Ways Gen Z Is Leading Social Media Usage

Social media usage is increasing for all generations, but most quickly for Gen Z. This year, US Gen Z social media usage will grow 7.7% versus 1.8% for the general population’s, according to a May 2024 forecast.

“[Gen Z] is catching up to millennials almost everywhere,” eMarketer analyst Paola Flores-Marquez said on the “Behind the Numbers: The Daily” podcast. They’re coming for millennials on Instagram, and soon Reddit, while younger Gen Zers are picking up Facebook as the start of their social media journey, she said.

Here are three ways Gen Z is leading social media usage.

1. Gen Z Instagram use is gaining ground on millennials

Instagram has always been a millennial-dominated platform, holding the largest share of users since the platform’s inception. By next year, millennial Instagram users will be overtaken by Gen Z in the US, with 52.4 million Gen Z users on the platform, per our forecast.

More than three-quarters (75.4%) of Gen Zers will be Instagram users next year, compared with 70.5% of millennials, per our forecast.

Gen Zers aged 18 to 24 will spend 45 minutes per day on Instagram, the most of any other age group.

Part of the reason for Instagram’s growth is because it is utilitarian, Flores-Marquez said. Instagram is easier to send direct messages than on TikTok, plus, when you’re meeting new people, it’s less intimate than sharing a phone number, she said.

Meanwhile, millennials have less time, more responsibilities, and don’t have as much urge to share their lives anymore, Flores-Marquez said. “[Anecdotally,] they don’t feel the pressure to perform for others in the same way.”

2. Reddit helps Gen Z find community and knowledge

“Reddit is one of the biggest winners of eMarketer's [“US Social Media Users by Generation 2024”] report because they're seeing gains all over with almost every generation—especially Gen Z,” Flores-Marquez said. Logged-in Gen Z Reddit users will grow 21.0% in the US this year, reaching 18 million, per our forecast.

This year, more than a quarter (26.1%) of the Gen Z population will be Reddit users. That will increase to 40.1% by 2028.

Millennials now hold the largest share of Reddit users, but their share will decline over the next few years, giving way for Gen Z.

“Reddit’s growth is very impressive, and speaks to how it’s benefitting from a shift where people are looking for spaces to find community and discussion now that X is continuing to dissolve,” Flores-Marquez said. “Reddit is also a space for Gen Z to do in-depth research on their interests.”

3. Facebook remains relevant in maintaining connection

Gen Z is the only generation to increase their usership on Facebook. This year, US Gen Z Facebook users will increase 8.6%, reaching 33.9 million.

This year, nearly half (49.0%) of the Gen Z population will be a Facebook user, per eMarketer's forecast.

Like all other age groups, Gen Zers aged 18 to 24 are decreasing their time spent on Facebook YoY.

“Facebook is such a fixture in the social media landscape that it’s almost a given that [Gen Zers] will sign up for it when they get on social media,” Flores-Marquez said.

Facebook makes it easy to stay up-to-date with connections both international and local, too, she said. By connecting with people in your neighborhood, meeting them in Groups, or buying from Facebook Marketplace, you can foster relationships with real people, compared with more anonymous spaces such as Reddit.