Boston Radio: It May Be The End For Toucher & Rich

“Toucher and Rich,” which became one of the most successful Boston radio programs of any genre since WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub launched in 2009, has reached a crossroads that could lead to the end of the show. according to The Boston Globe.

Co-host Fred Toucher recently signed a multiyear contract extension. Longtime co-host Rich Shertenlieb has not. On Wednesday, Shertenlieb piqued curiosity by changing the handle on the @ToucherandRich Twitter/X account that he has long operated to his own name, with the handle @heyrichhey.

Toucher’s extension was confirmed by a Beasley Media press release Wednesday night.

f the hosts go their separate ways, it’s the end of a remarkable run. Toucher and Shertenlieb, who worked together in Atlanta before coming to Boston in 2006 at rock-radio station WBCN, became The Sports Hub’s morning program upon its debut in August 2009. The Sports Hub immediately challenged longtime sports radio powerhouse WEEI, and soon overtook its established competition (which was still on AM at the time) in the Nielsen Audio ratings.

“Toucher and Rich” was the No. 1 program in morning drive (6-10) during the summer ratings period in the men 25-54 demographic, finishing with a 15.3 share, with WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” second at 11.6. That’s actually closer than any sports show in their time period has been to them in years, but it’s still a notable lead.

Toucher and Rich have distinct talents — Toucher is excellent at ad-libbing humor, and Shertenlieb has a gift for cooking up creative bits — but their ability to play off each other often takes the show to another level, whether the focus is on sports, pop culture, or something else they decide to discuss on a whim.

But over the past year, the show has been plagued by tension. During a meeting with station and parent company Beasley Media management, Shertenlieb accused Toucher of creating a hostile work environment.

And Your 2023 Marconi Award Winners Are...

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) last nigtht presented the 2023 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, a dinner celebration held at the Javits Center during NAB Show New York. The ceremony, presented by Xperi, was hosted by acclaimed sportscaster Rich Eisen with entertainment from VERZUZ host DJ Scratch.

Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio.

This year’s NAB Marconi Radio Award winners are:

• Legendary Radio Station of the Year: KCBS-AM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
• Legendary Station Manager: Debbie Kenyon, Audacy, Detroit, Mich.
• Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year: Rich Eisen, Westwood One, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Major Market Personality of the Year: Lin Brehmer, WXRT-FM, Chicago, Ill.
• Large Market Personality of the Year: Dave Ryan with Falen, Jenny and Drake, KDWB-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
• Medium Market Personality of the Year: Ashley Adams, Roger Todd and Michele Silva,
• WJXB-FM, Knoxville, Tenn.
• Small Market Personality of the Year: Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart, KATI-FM, Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.

• Major Market Station of the Year: WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
• Large Market Station of the Year: KSTP-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
• Medium Market Station of the Year:  WXKB-FM, Ft. Myers-Naples, Fla.
• Small Market Station of the Year: WIKY-FM, Evansville, Ind.
• AC Radio Station of the Year: KODA-FM, Houston, Texas
• Best Podcast of the Year: “The Letter,” KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, Utah
• CHR Station of the Year: WAPE-FM, Jacksonville, Fla.
• Classic Hits Station of the Year: KONO-FM, San Antonio, Texas
• College Station of the Year: WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.
• Country Station of the Year:  KYGO-FM, Denver, Colo.
• News/Talk Station of the Year: WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.
• Religious Station of the Year: KLTY-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
• Rock Station of the Year: WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Spanish Language Station of the Year: WLKQ-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
• Sports Station of the Year: WBZ-FM, Boston, Mass.
• Urban Station of the Year: WHQT-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Meta Reports Record Sales as Ad Rebound Continues

Facebook parent Meta Platforms reported its largest quarterly revenue since going public more than a decade ago as demand for advertising picked up and the company continued to reap the benefits of cutting costs and developing new AI technology.

The Wall Street Journal reports Meta’s sales increased to $34.1 billion, up more than 23% compared with a year ago. That represents Meta’s third quarter in a row of rising revenue after the company saw its business shrink for most of 2022. The 23% increase is Meta’s largest year-to-year growth in revenue since the third quarter of 2021. 

The company’s fortunes have begun to turn around during what Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has called a “year of efficiency.” Investors have been encouraged by improvements to the company’s ad-targeting capabilities and advancements in artificial intelligence. Its turnaround in advertising has been a crucial factor in its rebound after Apple in 2021 implemented privacy changes that erased $10 billion of revenue for Meta in 2022.

Comcast Exceeds Expectations

Shares of Comcast slipped as much as 8% in pre-market trading on Thursday despite beating Wall Street expectations for its third quarter of 2023.

The Wrap reports the media conglomerate reported adjusted net income of $4.48 billion, or earnings of $1.08 per share, up 6.2% and 12.5% year over year, respectively. Total revenue grew 0.9% year over year to $30.1 billion. Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research were expecting earnings of 94 cents per share on revenue of $29.64 billion.

Peacock, which added 4 million paid subscribers during the quarter, posted revenue of $830 million, up 64% year over year compared to $506 million a year ago. Meanwhile, the streamer’s adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $565 million, compared to $614 million a year ago. The company expects Peacock to hit peak losses of $2.8 billion in 2023, down from previous guidance of peak losses of $3 billion, and “meaningful EBITDA improvement” in 2024.

10/26 WAKE-UP CALL: 22 Dead In Maine Massacre

A gunman killed at least 22 people and wounded 50-60 others in three separate shootings across Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday night and is still on the loose, according to law enforcement sources and reports. The suspect is believed to have gunned down 22 victims and injured another 50 or more at multiple locations, including a bowling alley, Fox News reported. Police sources identified the possible suspect as Robert Card, 40.

@MEStatePolice Lewiston update: Shelter in place order stands in Lewiston & expanded to Lisbon. Reunification center at Auburn Middle School, 38 Falcon Drive, Auburn, for those w/questions about loved ones. @MEStatePolice ask anyone who sees anything suspicious to call 911. https://t.co/j3C7Nh2mRi

— MEMA (@MaineEMA) October 26, 2023

Card, of Boutin, Maine, is a trained firearms instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve stationed out of Saco, Maine, according to law enforcement sources in the state. He recently reported “hearing voices” and threatened to shoot up the National Guard Base where he was stationed, the sources said. Card, who should be considered “armed and dangerous,” was reportedly committed to a mental health facility over the summer and was released after a two-week stay, the sources added.

In a Wednesday night press conference, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said that law enforcement is not confirming an exact number of victims since the situation remains "very fluid," but a law enforcement source told Heinrich that 22 people are dead. On Wednesday night, the Lewiston Police Department identified Robert R. Card, of Bowdoin, Maine, as a person of interest. According to law enforcement, Card is a firearms' instructor.

Who is Robert Card? Maine authorities identify person of interest in deadly shooting rampagehttps://t.co/Kaz7oiFdUa

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 26, 2023

U-A-W REPORTS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT: Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers said Wednesday night they have reached a "historic" tentative agreement to end a 41-day strike targeting selected plants at the Dearborn automaker. The agreement includes 25% in base wage increases through April 2028 and will raise the top wage, now $32.32 an hour by over 30% to more than $40 an hour, and raise the starting wage by 68%, to over $28 an hour over the life of the contract, the UAW said in a news release announcing the deal. Workers will receive an immediate 11% wage increase upon ratification. Also included are cost-of-living adjustments and a reduction in the time for new workers to reach the top wage scale from eight years to three years, the union said. The deal also includes improvements for current retirees, workers with pensions, and those who have 401(k) plans. It also includes a right to strike over plant closures, a first for the union.

Speaker Johnson

➤JOHNSON ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER: The House elected Rep. Mike Johnson as speaker, ending three weeks of GOP infighting. The Louisiana Republican is a Trump ally who is known for his conservative stances on social issues. Johnson received all 220 GOP lawmakers’ votes on the House floor, although about 20 Republican members were absent. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) got 209. Democrats called Johnson an extremist for his positions regarding cultural issues and the 2020 presidential election. With the House GOP’s fourth nominee for the post in place, the chamber can operate for the first time since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California was ousted. The work includes additional aid for Israel and Ukraine as well as a plan to avert a government shutdown when the current funding runs out next month.

➤TERRORISTS HUDDLE:  Senior Palestinian officials and the head of the foreign-operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attended strategy meeting, according to people familiar with intelligence related to the assault. Hamas fighters killed more than 1,400 people in Israel on Oct. 7 and kidnapped scores of others who are being held hostage in Gaza. Long before that, Iran and its allies smuggled weapons into the West Bank, using drones, secret airline flights and a land bridge that traverses hundreds of miles and at least four national borders. The smuggling operation is fueling fears of a new front in the war and poses a growing threat to Jordan, a staunch U.S. ally bordering Israel and the West Bank that has struggled to contain a growing flow of drugs and arms. More than 6,500 Palestinians were killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry. The figure couldn’t be independently verified.

The Israeli military invited journalists, including NBC News, to view footage of the Oct. 7 terror attack.

The IDF also released Hamas video of the attack on the Supernova music festival to NBC News.@RafSanchez describes some of what he saw in the 46 minutes of raw footage. pic.twitter.com/LIXJ4jFXdB

— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) October 26, 2023

U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL UNDER FIRE:  Antonio Guterres on Wednesday defended comments he made before the Security Council the previous day that prompted Israel to call for his ouster. Guterres issued a statement saying he was "shocked by the misinterpretations" after Israeli officials accused him of justifying terrorism when he said the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians Oct. 7 “did not happen in a vacuum." 

Boston Radio: Karson & Kennedy Get Multi-Year Deal At WWBX

Audacy Boston has announced multiyear contract extensions with Mix 104.1 (WWBX-FM) morning show co-hosts Karson Tager and Kennedy Elsey. The duo are heard on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET.

"In December 2008, my wife and I drove into Boston with Kennedy," said Karson. "We had no winter coats, and I had a head full of hair. 16 years later, I'm bald but can finally afford a good winter jacket. God and life are good. We're also very grateful to the entire team behind the scenes for their support."

"I came to Boston with two cats and my two friends excited (and terrified) for something new," said Kennedy. "The cats ran away, but Karson and Lana stuck with me through thick and thin. We are honored to make you laugh every morning. It’s a gift I get to open every day, and I’m so grateful."

Steve Salhany (Vice President and Brand Manager, Mix 104.1), Karson Tager, Kennedy Elsey
and Mike Thomas (Senior Vice President/Market Manager) 

Edison Research Releases Q3 2023 Share of Ear Audio Dial

Share of Ear®, the unique study from Edison Research that measures the full audio space and how much the audio average American consumes in a typical day, has just been updated with third quarter data.

The graph below shows the Q3 2023 data for the Share of Ear Audio Dial, which shows the percentage of daily listening that Americans age 13+ spend with each type of audio.

Changes since our second quarter update: 

•  Podcasts gained one point to another new all-time high of 11% of all daily time spent with audio by those age 13+ in the U.S. 
• AM/FM Radio (which combines over-the-air with listening to radio stations via their streams) is up one point. AM/FM Radio was down one point in Q2, so essentially 
• AM/FM Radio is flat compared with Q1 2023
• Streaming Music is up one point Owned music (listening to CDs, vinyl, owned digital files, etc.) dropped two points.

AM/FM Radio makes up the largest share of listening, accounting for 37% of daily time with audio among those age 13+. The vast majority of that listening (32 percentage points) is to AM/FM over-the air signals. Streaming music takes the next largest share at 19%, followed by YouTube for music and music videos (not the streaming service YouTube Music) at 14%, podcasts at 11%, SiriusXM at 8%, and owned music at 5%. Music channels on TV, such as Music Choice, make up 3% of daily audio consumption, and Audiobooks make up the final 3%. Other sources account for less than 1% of listening.

X Rolls Out Audio, Video Calling

Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is launching an early version of video and audio calling for some users, according to chief technology officer and owner Elon Musk, as the billionaire pushes for X to become an "everything app".

Elon Musk

Musk described a post on the platform instructing users on enabling the feature as an "Early version of video & audio calling on X".

The latest functionality comes amid a series of new features and changes to the platform's core experience under Musk, who acquired the social media company nearly a year ago.

After rebranding Twitter as X, Musk signaled he would turn the platform into a super-app, offering a range of services from messaging and social networking to peer-to-peer payments.

Teasing the feature in August, Musk had said users would not need a phone number for the features, which will be available on Apple's iOS, Google's Android and personal computers.

Apple TV+ Raising Sub Prices 43 Percent

Since its launch in November 2019, Apple TV+ has been one of the — is not the — best value in streaming. However, almost exactly one year after a $2 price increase, the platform is raising costs again, this time going from $6.99 to $9.99 for a monthly subscription and $69 to $99 per year; this represents a 43% increase in price. Before October 2022, the Apple TV+ rate had been just $4.99 monthly and $49.99 annually, therefore, the new price more than doubles what the cost had been just over one year ago, reports The Streamable.

Like nearly every other streaming service, Apple is increasing its prices in an attempt to make streaming profitable, which only Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery — to a far lesser extent — has been able to do thus far. One way that many entertainment companies have tried to make their streaming offerings pay off is by introducing ad-supported subscription options, something that Apple has yet to do. However, for well over a year, there have been reports that the tech giant has been hiring ad-focused TV execs in an effort gearing up to incorporate this dual-pronged approach to its streaming offerings.

In recent months, the streaming world has seen price hikes from Netflix — which confirmed increases to multiple plans last week — all components of the Disney Bundle raised their individual and collective prices earlier in October, Peacock — which raised its rates for the first time in its history — Paramount+, Max, discovery+, and others.

Tampa Radio: EJ Greig Named Branding Director At WTBV

CMG Radio has named EJ Greig as WTBV 101.5 FM The Vibe’s first Director of Branding and Programming Radio Personality.

Greig came to CMG as an experienced and veteran radio leader with a reputation for taking stations to the top of their markets.

Utah Radio: University of Utah to Acquire Second Station

KUER and PBS Utah, with support from their license holder, the University of Utah, will acquire the 88.3 FM frequency license from KCPW’s owner, Wasatch Public Media. Closing of the sale is subject to the final transfer of the license by the Federal Communications Commission, no later than April 30, 2024.

“We are uniquely positioned to keep this spot on the dial locally owned and in public service,” said KUER and PBS Utah Executive Director Maria O’Mara. “And our intention is to grow that service for a more diverse and younger audience.”

Supported by decades of broadcasting and fundraising experience, KUER and PBS Utah will bring a bilingual format of music and news to the 88.3 signal, which broadcasts from a transmitter located in the Oquirrh Mountains southwest of West Valley City and is heard throughout Salt Lake County.

After FCC approval of transfer of the license, programming for 88.3 will first come from Radio Bilingüe, a Fresno-based non-profit network and national distributor of public radio programming in Spanish. It has aired on an HD subchannel of KUER since May.

“Hot Mix” Heats Up With 12 New Affiliates

Benztown, a global leader in radio imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasting and jingles, announces that Hot Mix, America’s most trusted Mix show, has signed 12 new Hot Mix affiliates in Q3 and Q4.

Hot Mix has today’s hottest hit music mixed beat-to-beat and back-to-back and is the mix show of choice for Z-100/New York. The four-hour weekly show is professionally programmed and mixed and is completely customizable with local commercial and station ID breaks. The 12 new Hot Mix affiliates are:

• 
  KHTH-FM (Hot 101.7), Santa Rosa, CA
• KHBC-FM and KHWI-FM (The Wave@92FM), Hilo, HI
• WUPM-FM (Mix 106.9), Ironwood, MI
• KRNG-FM (101.3), Reno, NV
• KRDQ-FM (100.3), Wichita-Hutchinson, KS
• KVOK-FM (Hot 101.1), Anchorage, AK
• WTOD-HD2 (Party 103.3), Toledo, OH
• WKZL-FM (107.5 KZL), Greensboro, NC
• WUHU-FM (All Hit 107.1), Bowling Green, KY
• WLOD-AM (1140), Knoxville, TN
• WAZO-FM (Z107.5), Wilmington, NC
• WBNQ-FM (101.5), Bloomington, IL

Bootleg Kev Show Adds Two More Affiliates

"The Bootleg Kev Show" adds two more markets on Alpha Media outlets. 

Kev started September 25 in Portland on KINK-FM-HD2 (We 102.9) from 3-7pm and last week, he began 3-7pm in San Antonio on KTFM-FM-HD2 (We 94.5). 

The show is produced daily and co-hosted by social media talent James Jefferson, Jr. 

In addition, the program already airs in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tampa, Las Vegas, Ft. Meyers, Wichita, Reno, Miami, Madison, Orlando, Corpus Christi, Flint and Fort Wayne.

Bootleg Kev said, "I am so excited to be in Portland and San Antonio! Phil Becker and the folks at Alpha Media are forward-thinking visionaries in our business , and I am lucky to be able to call them my new partners."

Alpha Media Executive Vice President of Content Phil Becker commented, "I believe, as does Alpha Media, in investing in unduplicatable storytellers. Kev has shown for years that he has that ability and has more than earned his seat at the hip-hop big kids table. The perspective that Bootleg and James Jefferson JR. bring to radio is refreshing and essential to keep the medium relevant. Now the question is, what jersey should I send them? Trailblazers or Spurs?"

Dennis Quaid Joins FOX Nation

FOX Nation, FOX News Media’s streaming service, will debut Top Combat Pilot, a new four-part series hosted by acclaimed actor Dennis Quaid on Monday, November 6th, announced Jason Klarman, president of the platform.

Based in Yuma, Arizona, the series will feature an inside look at the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, the most elite aviation program in America and the US Marines’ version of the Navy’s renowned “Top Gun school.” Following 25 of the best combat pilots from every squadron in the country, viewers will watch as they train in an unrivaled air fleet, including F-18 Hornets and Huey and Cobra combat helicopters. The top performers will seek to distinguish themselves as the best of the best and be invited back as a WTI instructor.

In making the announcement, Klarman said, “Dennis Quaid not only played a pilot in the iconic movie The Right Stuff, but he is also a licensed pilot — we couldn’t think of a better person to host this series.”