Picture this: you're cruising down the highway, the radio humming with your favorite local station or a gripping podcast keeping you company. An ad catches your ear—maybe it’s for a new restaurant or a must-have gadget. Before you know it, you’re pulling into a store or tapping your phone to learn more. Audacy’s latest Insights research reveals that audio ads—whether on AM/FM radio or podcasts—don’t just grab attention; they spark action.
The latest Insight piece from Audacy shows numbers tell a compelling story.
After hearing a radio ad, 56% of listeners dive into researching the advertiser, 53% chat about the product with friends or family, and 41% go all the way to making a purchase. Podcasts are just as powerful: 50% of listeners seek more information, 47% spread the word, and an impressive 49% open their wallets.
The Car: A Hotspot for Action
The car isn’t just a place to enjoy music or stories—it’s a launchpad for purchases. With drivers often just minutes from stores or restaurants, audio ads hit at the perfect moment. Audacy’s research shows that over 45% of connected car drivers visit a store after hearing a radio or podcast ad, transforming a catchy jingle or compelling pitch into real-world foot traffic.
Connected car owners are a goldmine for advertisers. These high-value consumers spend over $1,000 a year on retail, home improvement, financial services, and education. With both the intent and income to act, they’re ready to respond to the right ad at the right time.
Why Audio Reigns Supreme
Local radio and podcasts dominate the in-car audio scene, accounting for 93% of ad-supported listening, according to Edison Research. This massive, engaged audience isn’t just tuning in—they’re acting. Beyond driving purchases, audio ads ignite conversations: 53% of radio listeners and 47% of podcast listeners share what they’ve heard with others, creating a ripple effect of word-of-mouth marketing.
In the world of in-car audio, ads do more than raise awareness—they drive results, turning listeners into shoppers and conversations into conversions.
In a packed Manhattan federal courtroom, the trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs took a dramatic turn on Thursday as a second woman accused him of rape. The testimony, delivered in the third week of a high-stakes trial, added to the mounting allegations against the Bad Boy Records founder, who faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering that could lead to life in prison if convicted.
Reuters reports the accuser, testifying under the pseudonym Mia, was Combs’ former personal assistant. Her voice trembled as she recounted two alleged assaults. “I was just frozen. I didn’t do anything. I just let it happen,” Mia said, tears welling as she described an incident where Combs allegedly grabbed her head and forced himself on her.
In another, she said Combs climbed on top of her while she slept, raping her as she lay paralyzed with fear. Combs, 55, sat stoically, occasionally passing notes to his lawyers but showing little outward reaction.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts, including racketeering and sex trafficking. His defense acknowledges past abusive behavior in relationships but insists any sexual encounters were consensual. Prosecutors, however, paint a darker picture, alleging Combs coerced women over two decades into drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances called "Freak Offs" with male sex workers, using fear and manipulation to control them.
The trial, now gripping the public’s attention due to Combs’ outsized influence in hip-hop, has already heard emotional testimony from his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie. In the trial’s opening week, the R&B singer described an 11-year relationship marked by physical and emotional abuse, including a rape after their final breakup. Ventura said she participated in the Freak Offs out of fear that Combs would leak compromising sex tapes, even as she grappled with her love for him.
Friends and associates have bolstered the prosecution’s case, portraying Combs as a domineering figure who relied on bodyguards and allies to enable his alleged crimes and silence victims. Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, testified last week that Combs threatened her to stay quiet about what she witnessed. Under cross-examination, Combs’ lawyers pressed Richard on inconsistencies between her testimony and prior statements to prosecutors.
Arrested in Manhattan in September 2024, Combs is being held at a Brooklyn federal prison when not in court. The trial, before a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates, has drawn intense media scrutiny, reflecting Combs’ legacy as a cultural titan who propelled hip-hop to the mainstream alongside icons like The Notorious B.I.G. As the case unfolds, the world watches, waiting to see if the music mogul’s empire will crumble under the weight of these accusations.
➦In 1894...John Florence Sullivan was born (Died – March 17, 1956). Known professionally as Fred Allen, he was a comedian. His absurdist, topically pointed radio program The Fred Allen Show (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the Golden Age of American radio.
His best-remembered gag was his long-running mock feud with friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny, but it was only part of his appeal; radio historian John Dunning (in On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio) wrote that Allen was radio's most admired comedian and most frequently censored. A master ad libber, Allen often tangled with his network's executives (and often barbed them on the air over the battles) while developing routines whose style and substance influenced fellow comic talents, including Groucho Marx, Stan Freberg, Henry Morgan and Johnny Carson; his avowed fans also included President Franklin D. Roosevelt, humorist James Thurber, and novelists William Faulkner, John Steinbeck and Herman Wouk (who began his career writing for Allen).
Allen has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: a radio star at 6713 Hollywood Blvd. and a TV star at 7001 Hollywood Blvd
➦In 1908...Melvin Jerome Blanc born (Died – July 10, 1989). He was a voice actor and radio personality.
He later voiced characters for Hanna-Barbera's television cartoons, including Barney Rubble on The Flintstones and Mr. Spacely on The Jetsons. Blanc was also the original voice of Woody Woodpecker for Universal Pictures and provided vocal effects for the Tom and Jerry cartoons directed by Chuck Jones for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, replacing William Hanna. During the golden age of radio, Blanc also frequently performed on the programs of famous comedians from the era, including Jack Benny, Abbott and Costello, Burns and Allen and Judy Canova.
Having earned the nickname The Man of a Thousand Voices, Blanc is regarded as one of the most influential people in the voice acting industry.
Blanc began his radio career at the age of 19 when in 1927 he debuted as a voice actor on the KGW (Portland OR) program The Hoot Owls, where his ability to provide voices for multiple characters first attracted attention. He moved to Los Angeles in 1932, where he met Estelle Rosenbaum (1909 - 2003), whom he married a year later, before returning to Portland. He moved to KEX in 1933 to produce and co-host his Cobweb And Nuts show with his wife Estelle, which debuted on June 15. The program played Monday through Saturday from 11:00 pm to midnight, and by the time the show ended two years later, it appeared from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
With his wife's encouragement, Blanc returned to Los Angeles and joined Warner Bros.-owned KFWB in Hollywood, California, in 1935. He joined The Johnny Murray Show, but the following year switched to CBS Radio and The Joe Penner Show.
Blanc was a regular on the NBC Red Network show The Jack Benny Program in various roles, including voicing Benny's Maxwell automobile (in desperate need of a tune-up), violin teacher Professor LeBlanc, Polly the Parrot, Benny's pet polar bear Carmichael, the tormented department store clerk, and the train announcer. The first role came from a mishap when the recording of the automobile's sounds failed to play on cue, prompting Blanc to take the microphone and improvise the sounds himself. The audience reacted so positively that Benny decided to dispense with the recording altogether and have Blanc continue in that role.
By 1946, Blanc appeared on over 15 radio programs in supporting roles. His success on The Jack Benny Program led to his own radio show on the CBS Radio Network, The Mel Blanc Show, which ran from September 3, 1946, to June 24, 1947. Blanc played himself as the hapless owner of a fix-it shop, as well as his young cousin Zookie.
Blanc also appeared on such other national radio programs as The Abbott and Costello Show, the Happy Postman on Burns and Allen, and as August Moon on Point Sublime. During World War II, he appeared as Private Sad Sack on various radio shows, most notably G.I. Journal. Blanc recorded a song titled "Big Bear Lake."
A month into negotiations to settle President Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News, a Paramount Global subsidiary, the parties remain at odds.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Paramount recently offered $15 million to resolve the dispute, while Trump’s team is demanding over $25 million and a CBS News apology, according to sources familiar with the matter. Trump’s team has also threatened a separate lawsuit alleging bias in CBS’s news coverage. Wednesday, May 28, 2025, marked the deadline for Trump to respond to Paramount’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims CBS deceptively edited a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris to favor her, seeking $20 billion in damages. CBS denies the allegations, asserting the broadcast was neither doctored nor deceitful. A tentative mediation session is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, has recused herself from the talks. Paramount plans to appoint three new board directors in the coming weeks, increasing the board to seven, as one current director intends to resign. This move aims to ensure a full board if the settlement fails.
The lawsuit has strained Paramount’s planned $8 billion merger with Skydance Media and caused unrest at CBS News. CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon recently announced her departure, partly due to her refusal to apologize to Trump as part of a potential settlement.
WSJ also reports Paramount executives are concerned that a settlement could expose directors and officers to liability in future shareholder lawsuits or criminal charges for bribing a public official. They aim to settle within the range of prior Trump-related settlements, such as Disney’s $15 million payment to Trump’s foundation and $1 million in legal fees to settle a defamation suit against ABC News, Meta’s $25 million settlement in January 2025, and X’s $10 million settlement in February 2025.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, soon to be the only Democrat on the commission, warned of an "administration-wide effort" across multiple agencies to suppress free speech and silence dissent.
Speaking at a Free Speech forum at Cal State Los Angeles, hosted by the left-wing advocacy group Free Press, Gomez described the event as a "First Amendment tour" to highlight and counter these policies. Free Press co-CEO Jessica J. González called Trump’s actions a "clear effort to quash dissent," emphasizing the need to organize to protect free expression.
Brendan Carr
With the FCC led by Trump’s appointee Brendan Carr, Gomez faces challenges opposing the Republican majority. She accused the administration of a "campaign of censorship and control," citing "sham investigations" targeting broadcasters’ editorial choices. Referencing Trump’s lawsuit against 60 Minutes and pressure on its parent company, Paramount Global, Gomez argued that such actions aim to intimidate journalists into softening criticism.
The Wrap reports she stressed that press freedom requires journalists to work without corporate interference.
Gomez noted Trump’s history of removing Democratic FTC members and said any attempt to fire her before her term ends would be illegal. “If I get fired, it’s not because I didn’t do my job, but because I insisted on doing it,” she said.
Critics, including Gomez, question Carr’s claim that the FCC’s review of the Paramount-Skydance merger is unrelated to Trump’s lawsuit, viewing it as leverage to pressure Paramount into settling what experts call a baseless case.
During the week of May 19-25, FOX News Channel averaged 2.9 million viewers in weekday primetime, leading broadcast network ABC (2.1 million viewers) and all of cable news.
Notably, the network has captured the top 1100 telecasts since the election. During Monday-Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.6 million viewers and 175,000 in the 25-54 demo leading all of cable. In Monday-Sunday primetime (8-11 PM/ET), FNC averaged 2.4 million viewers and 252,000 in the 25-54 demo. CNN posted yet another low for the year with M-Sun. primetime viewers (386,000 viewers) and M-Sun. total day demo viewers (56,000 A25-54).
For the week, The Five averaged 3.9 million viewers (362,000 A25-54), leading cable news with viewers. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.9 million viewers and 273,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.7 million viewers and 286,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.4 million viewers and 370,000 in the 25-54 demo, the highest rated demo in cable news. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.8 million viewers and 319,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.5 million viewers and 190,000 in the 25-54 demo.
At 10 PM/ET, FNC’s late-night offering Gutfeld! secured 3 million viewers and 349,000 with A25-54. Gutfeld! once again topped the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1,841,000 viewers; 288,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1,436,000 viewers; 235,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1,201,000 viewers; 278,000 A25-54).
FNC’s daytime programs continued to outpace the broadcast competition throughout the week. The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2,150,000 viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2,062,000 viewers), Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 1,963,000 viewers), America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 1,961,000 viewers), America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1,899,000 viewers) and The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1,826,000 viewers) all led NBC’s Today Third Hour (1,645,000 viewers), ABC’s GMA3 (1,176,000 viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna & Friends (1,150,00 viewers) and NBC News Daily (1,044,000 viewers) with viewers.
On Saturday: My View with Lara Trump (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) was the most watched program with 1.4 million viewers. At 8 PM/ET, Life, Liberty & Levin followed closely behind, commanding 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friend Saturday (Saturday, 6-10 AM/ET) was the most-watched show amongst the 25-54 demo nabbing 151,000 A25-54.
On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) was the top show of the day with 1.4 million viewers. FOX & Friends Sunday (Sunday, 6-10 AM/ET) was the most watched show with younger viewers, scoring 125,000 A25-54. Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy secured 1.3 million viewers. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sunday, 10 PM/ET) drew in 1 million viewers.
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 5-19-25 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.
President Donald Trump addressed criticism of his fluctuating tariff policies, mockingly labeled “TACO trade” (Trump Always Chickens Out) by a Financial Times columnist. The term refers to Trump’s pattern of announcing aggressive tariffs, causing market drops, then scaling them back, leading to market recoveries.
In a CNBC presser at the White House, Trump rejected claims of backing down, insisting his tariff strategy strengthened U.S. trade negotiations. He cited a recent 50% tariff threat against the European Union, which he delayed from June 1 to July 9 after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requested an extension. “After I did what I did, they said, ‘We’ll meet anytime you want,’” Trump said, calling the approach “negotiation,” not retreat, and dismissing the question as “nasty.”
Trump brushed off the “TACO trade” jab—short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”—saying lowering tariffs brought global powers to the table. “You call that chickening out?” he asked, calling the FT-originated term “a nasty question.” https://t.co/cllxTVk9Cwpic.twitter.com/rx86ePvsl6
Markets reflected the pattern: stocks fell after the initial tariff announcement on Friday but rebounded Tuesday following the delay. Trump credited the tariff threat with sparking renewed U.S.-EU trade talks.
FOX Business Network (FBN) scored double-digit wins over CNBC in business day, market hours and total day during the month of May, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Delivering seven of the top 10 business programs with total viewers, Kudlow and Varney & Co. once again ranked as the top two programs. Notably, FBN’s The Big Money Show (12-2 PM/ET) marked its first monthly win over CNBC’s Fast Money Halftime Report/The Exchange in total viewers, and the network’s first 12-2PM/ET timeslot win since 2018.
Throughout the month of May, FBN saw double-digit advantages over CNBC in business day viewers with a 30% advantage (220,000 total viewers), market hours with a 21% advantage (210,000 total viewers), and weekday total day with a 23% advantage (137,000 total viewers).
Dominating the business news ranker for the past 25 consecutive months, Larry Kudlow’s eponymous Kudlow (4PM/ET) delivered a whopping 101% advantage (304,000 total viewers) over CNBC’s Closing Bell. Meanwhile, Stuart Varney’s three-hour market opener Varney & Co. (9 AM/ET-12 PM/ET) marked 39 straight monthly wins over CNBC. Varney & Co. ranked as the second highest-rated business program and saw a 47% gain (258,000 total viewers) versus CNBC’s Squawk on the Street & Money Movers. Additionally, The Big Money Show, The Evening Edit, The Claman Countdown, Making Money with Charles Payne and The Bottom Line all secured spots within the top 10 business programs.
The network’s three-hour pre-market program, Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria (6-9 AM/ET) drew in 121,000 total viewers, marking a 13% advantage over CNBC’s Squawk Box. Notably, in the 2 PM/ET hour, Making Money with Charles Payne (2-3 PM/ET) overtook CNBC’s Power Lunch for the first time since 2022 with 163,000 total viewers. Liz Claman’s The Claman Countdown (3-4 PM/ET) garnered 175,000 total viewers.
All of FBN’s additional core programming saw double-digit advantages over CNBC’s hourly competition including The Evening Edit (5-6 PM/ET) with a 39% advantage over Fast Money, making the program's 15th straight win (186,000 total viewers). The Bottom Line (6-7 PM/ET) saw its 15th consecutive win over CNBC’s Mad Money with a 47% lead (159,000 total viewers). On Fridays, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 7-7:30 PM/ET) captured a 27% advantage (90,000 total viewers) and Barron’s Roundtable (Fridays, 7:30-8 PM/ET) nabbed a 25% advantage (65,000 total viewers) over CNBC’s American Greed.
Additionally, FBN’s Barron’s Roundtable ranked number one in the top 20 most affluent cable news programs with younger viewers, with an average median income of $212,100. Kudlow, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, The Big Money Show, The Claman Countdown, and The Evening Edit each placed in the top 20 most affluent programs, with an average income of $133,500 or greater.
Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted Justin Schaflander to Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Atlanta. Schaflander rises from his role as Vice President of Sales for Cumulus Atlanta. Schaflander will report to Dave Milner, President, Operations, Cumulus Media.
Justin Schaflander
An Atlanta media veteran, Schaflander joined Cumulus Media in January 2024 from Good Karma Brands/ESPN Los Angeles, where he was Director of Sales for two years. Prior to that, he was with iHeartMedia for 13 years and was Region President over Atlanta/Georgia markets, Market President – Atlanta, and Vice President of Sales – Atlanta.
Milner said: “Justin is a proven leader with deep roots in the Atlanta media landscape and a strong track record of driving results and developing high-performing teams. His passion for the business, strategic mindset, and commitment to our people and brands make him the ideal person to lead Cumulus Atlanta into its next chapter of growth.”
Schaflander said: “It’s an honor to step into this role. My focus is clear: drive revenue, serve our partners and listeners well, and lead with urgency. We’ve got the talent, the tools, and the mindset —and there’s real opportunity ahead. Now’s the time to capture it, have some fun, and deliver great results.”
đź“»Cumulus Media owns and operates four popular radio stations in the Atlanta market, including: New Country 101.FIVE/WKHX-FM (Country); 99X/WNNX-FM (Classic Rock); Q99.7/WWWQ-FM (CHR); and OG 97.9/WWWQ-H3 (Urban/Classic Hip Hop).
Bloomberg Audio and Key Networks announce that Bloomberg Business of Entertainment has signed Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news radio station WTOP-FM in Washington, D.C., as a new affiliate of the 60-second radio report. Bloomberg Business of Entertainment takes listeners behind the scenes of the entertainment industry’s biggest stories. The micro-feature provides captivating snippets of the entertainment industry’s most compelling stories of the day and is tailor-made for stations of virtually all formats and market sizes.
Bloomberg Business of Entertainment debuted in January and in addition to WTOP, is now heard on affiliates including WBBR-AM in New York, KNX-AM and FM in Los Angeles, WBOS-FM in Boston, and KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM in San Francisco.
In Bloomberg Business of Entertainment, Bloomberg's Lisa Mateo and Karen Moskow cover the ever-changing habits of how media is consumed - from movies to music - in a compelling and revealing one-minute listener-friendly format. The report will also focus on the challenges and struggles of film, cable television, streaming media, social media, and more.
The Bloomberg Business of Entertainment report is suitable for virtually all formats and includes a 60-second spot, distributed once a day for airing Monday through Friday. The report is distributed to radio stations nationwide, in major markets including New York and Los Angeles.
Michael Lysak, Head of Bloomberg Radio Syndication, said: "The entertainment business has always been fascinating to watch, but it has never been at a more crucial crossroads than it is today. The storyline of the industry itself has all of the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster."
Cumulus Media announces that it has launched Montgomery’s newest Classic Hip Hop and R&B station, The Vibe/95.1 HD3 FM. The station went live on Monday, May 19th and previously aired a simulcast of News/Talk station WLWI-AM. Cumulus Montgomery concurrently launched The Vibe’s website at www.951thevibe.com.
The Vibe/95.1 HD3 FM plays the best music from artists including The Notorious B.I.G., Ginuwine, Aaliyah, 2Pac, Salt-N-Pepa, Missy Elliott, and Sir Mix-A-Lot.
Paula Divello, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Montgomery, noted: “We are excited to offer unique, new programming on HD that airs chart-topping Classic Hip Hop and R&B. We believe the listeners in Montgomery and Central Alabama will enjoy hearing all their old favorites - and the station will be a benefit to both the community and our advertisers. Not only will listeners love the sound and feel of The Vibe, but advertisers will find a new home and great opportunities to connect to audiences.”
Paul Horton, Program Director, The Vibe/95.1 HD3 FM, said: “The Vibe will attract listeners in the River Region who grew up with all the Classic Hip Hop and R&B favorites. It's a blast from the past that brings nostalgia for the good old days back to Gen Xers and Millennials. And will surely become a favorite radio spot for every generation.”
đź“»The new station rounds out Cumulus Montgomery’s wide range of entertainment offerings that listeners love, including Country powerhouse WLWI/I-92, WXFX/95.1 The Fox (Classic Rock), WHHY/Y102 (CHR), WMXS/Mix 103.3 (AC), and WMSP-AM/Jox 740 (Sports).
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