Industry News

iHeartMedia Pulls the Plug on “The Freak”

According to a report in the Dallas Observer, the 16-month run of talk on KEGL-FM, Dallas as The Freak is over, and the station is returning to its rock roots as “97.1 The Eagle.” The Observer piece cites Athlon Sports’ report by Richie Whitt that broke the news. Dallas radio legend Mike Rhyner – who joined theim station after retiring from Cumulus Media’s crosstown sports talker KTCK-AM/FM “The Ticket” tells the Observer that he and castmates Julie Dobbs and Jeff Cavanaugh were let go on Friday (4/26). Rhyner says, “I could be standing at the New Mexico border and still see this coming. It’s a feeling that I and plenty of others at the station had been getting for some time now. iHeartRadio is a music company that really doesn’t do that much talk radio, and the talk radio they do is not local or locally originated, and they got caught into something [97.1 The Freak] they didn’t know anything about, and they were kind of overwhelmed by it, and they decided that ‘this is not our bag.’” Whitt’s Athlon story noted that “lagging ratings” and the talent expense [high overhead] had the station in corporate’s fiscal sights. Read the Observer piece here.

Industry News

Boomer and WFAN, New York Ink Extension

WFAN, New York morning drive personality Boomer Esiason signs a multiyear extension with the Audacy sports talk giant. Esiason co-hosts the “Boomer & Gio” show with Gregg “Gio” Giannotti. Audacy notes that this new deal brings Esiason past 20 years as morning drive host at WFAN, making him the longest-tenured morning show host in the station’s history, surpassing Don Imus. Audacy Newim York market president Chris Oliviero says, “Boomer has become a true cornerstone in the long, storied history of WFAN. He was already the highest-rated morning show in the FAN record books, and now, with this new extension, he will add longest-running to his accolades. And most excitedly, we are certain the best is still yet to come as Boomer begins this new chapter in his career by making a longterm commitment to the FAN, along with a creative vision for elevating the brand together to new heights.” Esiason comments, “For the last 17 years, it has been an honor to be the voice that New York sports fans wake up to. I could not be more excited to continue delivering four hours of entertaining conversation at the most vibrant and storied sports radio station in the country, working alongside the morning crew. I would like to thank Audacy, Chris Oliviero, and, most importantly, our passionate listeners for the opportunity to continue on this incredible ride.”

Industry Views

Pending Business: Non-Compete

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

imIt’s complicated, this whole Federal Trade Commission ruling potentially banning the non-compete. Considering where you stand on the non-compete concept, it’s really all about evaluating the five “C” profile of your media business.

Personally, I sit at a roundtable where all sides are given equal consideration. More about that roundtable later.

First the five Cs of your media business: Company, Culture, Customers, Competition, Compensation. Let us define each.

1. Company – What is the image and reputation of your Company (management) internally?

Externally? Is your Company viewed as a destination or last resort for employment?

2. Culture – Is the atmosphere on your sales team or in your talent pool upbeat, positive performance driven, supportive, with access to key management? Is there a feedback loop that makes employee voices valued in this new world of Zoom, Teams, etc.? Is achievement recognized in a positive manner? Do sellers and talent have input into goals? Are missed goals treated like broken glass or the start of a learning curve?

3. Customers – Advertisers and audience are important customers. Advertisers, the cash register of any ad-based media model, move in only three directions – increase their spend, decrease their spend, flatline spending. Audience scale is the currency of your performing talent. Audience, like advertisers, can only go in three similar directions – increase, decrease, level off. If you are a subscription-based media entity, pay close attention to overdelivering subscriber expectations and lowering churn.

4. Competition – Keep a close eye on what your competitors are paying, how they are recruiting and what they are changing.

5. Compensation – My favorite. Have the courage to pay for performance at the high end and many of your non-compete clauses may not be needed.

Check the boxes on all five Cs in the model as outlined. Now back to my roundtable.

When you consider your company’s view, the non-compete in any media business that provides training (sales, talent, and other personnel), promotional investment, exposure to confidential research and strategies, is not simple to eliminate.

Consider the following:

1. The talent/show that is backed with a six-figure promotional campaign. Should the talent/show be allowed to seek employment at a competitor who is smart enough to realize, your company invested the money to make the talent/show a success, and all the competitor needs to do is revise compensation and lift a few restrictions? Your company’s investment could never be paid back.

2. Ever sit in on a focus group project? When the participants open the perception spigot, the bucket can fill up with verbal gold. Whomever gains access to that research and the resulting strategic change in direction has their hands on confidential information that can help drive results off the charts. How is the company’s investment in that research protected? What about the employees learning how it all works?

3. Good sales training, seminars, and off-site are not cheap, and considered an investment in all sellers and management. Should you really be permitted to walk across the street with no notice and all that expensive training in your laptop?

I’m writing this column as a roundtable, considering all sides and it is still complicated.

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.

Industry News

Powerful Agenda Being Set for TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond

imThe forthcoming 27th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important national gathering will be meticulously documented on video for posterity. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “Because the entire agenda of this year’s event will take place on the state of the art television soundstage ‘A’ at Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication and a special staging area for individual interviews will be set up on the adjacent TV soundstage ‘B,’ the opportunity to create an in-depth video time capsule of this remarkably transitional moment in talk media history will be unprecedented.” Harrison adds, “The number of heavyweight players from all ends of the business gathered in one place for one day on a television soundstage will be of tremendous historical significance. We will grab the opportunity to save everything we can for posterity. This conference will be more than just another industry ‘convention.’ It will be a ‘symposium’ for the ages reflecting and preserving a remarkably colorful and historic era in American media and culture. People all over the world and for years to come will bear witness to this ‘happening.’” This power-packed, one-day event will again be presented by TALKERS in association with the prestigious university’s multi-award-winning station WRHU Radio and the school’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. To register for TALKERS 2024 or to obtain sponsorship information, call Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413. For a look at the full list of speakers, stories about key panel discussions & presentations, as well as a list of nearby hotels, click here.

Industry News

Report: Francesa Says Tom Brady “Not Going to Be Great” TV Analyst

The publication Marca reports that former WFAN, New York afternoon drive legend Mike Francesa has a not great prediction about Tom Brady’s probability of success as a FOX Sports NFL color analyst. The seven-time Super Bowl winner will begin his 10-year, $375 million gig with FOX this September, takingim over for Greg Olsen alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. Francesa is quoted saying that Brady obviously has a deep knowledge of the game but he believes Brady will struggle. “I don’t think his personality is such. I don’t think he’s going to be great at it. I really don’t. I think there’s a unique quality that you have to bring that allows you as an analyst to see the game, see the game quickly, plus bring personality into it. It’s a tricky job for the analyst in football because you’re going to spend a lot of time over replay. You’re going to spend a lot of time breaking down what happens on replay. And you also have to be very personable and glib in how you do it. I don’t see him there.” Read the Marca story here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: 50 Years, Same Station!

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imAPPLAUSE for Daniel Centofanti, a good egg, known to several generations of Southern New Englanders as “Giovanni,” mornings on WPRO-FM, Providence… until today, the 50th anniversary of the station’s format flip from Beautiful Music to CHR.

1974 was also the year I went to work there, doing nights on WPRO-AM. And Gio’ was that kid, loitering at the radio station…UNTIL – as happened to so many of us budding broadcasters – someone called in sick, and PD Gary Berkowitz told him “You’re on!”

im

Back to the future: That kid is now 68, which makes me feel older than when I was 68. Take a bow, amigo. Here’s how local TV broke the news:

https://turnto10.com/news/local/local-radio-legend-giovanni-of-92-pro-fm-announces-retirement-after-50-years-on-air-southern-new-england-rhode-island-february-15-2024

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of The Local Radio Advantage: Your 4-Week Tune-In Tune-Up,” and “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.

Job Opportunity

Cumulus Seeks OM/PD for Albuquerque

CUMULUS MEDIA | Albuquerque is looking for a dynamic operations manager/program director. Our staff takes pride in our community and value teamwork. If you can deliver lifestyle headlines, be focused, creative and multi-task and most of all… love radio, we should talk.  Board work, remotes, production,im and podcasts are all a part of what we do, so show us what you’ve got. The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of programming including scheduling content, coaching on-air staff, station and AM/FM cluster strategy, development of on-air/online promotions and generating associated revenue, oversight and content creation for digital extensions (including streams, websites and podcasts), and have a strong customer service approach towards listeners, staff, & sales. Additionally, the candidate will act as the program director for Legendary News Radio KKOB and KNML The Sports Animal. Find out more and apply here. Cumulus is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Opportunity

Stonecom Has Openings in Cookeville, Tennessee

Stonecom Cookeville has three positions open. They are seeking a broadcast journalist/news reporter who is a lover of news who wants to lead their team and do news the right way. It is radio but on-air does NOT have to be part of the job. Writing and reporting MUST be part of the job. Send writing samples,im airchecks, and salary requirements to the address below. The company also seeks an on-air talent and programming assistant to be a part of the Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93.7, 106.9 Kicks Country, News Talk 94.1, 93-3 The Dawg, Sports Radio 104.7, 101.9 / AM 920 WLIV, 96-9 Hwy 111 Country team. Send your resume. Send an aircheck. Send two sentences describing your goal in work and why this job interests you. You must do all three. And finally, Stonecom is seeking a graphic artist who designs clean, attention-getting logos, posters, mailers and web graphics. A great opportunity to supplement your income, add additional clients to your growing repertoire, or work from home. Send at least five examples of your work – along with your resume. Reply to: Stonecom, Attn: Human Resources, 1 Stonecom Way, Cookeville, TN 38501 Or email marcia@stonecomradio.com. Stonecom is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Opportunity

Saga Looking to Fill Weather Director/News Reporter Role

Saga Communications’ Spencer Radio Group is looking to hire a full-time weather director and news reporter for KICD-AM; BIG Country 107.7; MORE 104.9 and PURE Oldies 98.3/98.5 in Spencer, Iowa.im They seek someone who understands small-market, local radio and is willing to be involved in the community. Knowledge of radio automation software, Adobe audition, WordPress, and general computer experience is preferred. SRG offers paid vacation and great benefits including – health, vision, dental and 401K. Send your resume and demo! No phone calls. No voicetrack inquiries. Saga Communications of Iowa, LLC is an EOE. Kevin Tlam, Operations Manager, Spencer Radio Group, P.O. Box 260, Spencer, Iowa 51301 ktlam@spencerradiogroup.com

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

The pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. college campuses and the Israel-Hamas war; the presidential race; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; the White House Correspondents Dinner; homelessness and the courts; the U.S. migrant crisis; Kristi Noem dog killing controversy; Marjorie Taylor Greene’s campaign to oust Mike Johnson from House Speaker role; and the deadly Oklahoma tornadoes were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Doug Stephan’s “Good Day” Restructures for Weekends and Flex Schedule

im

Talk host Doug Stephan announces that his daily morning radio show – airing consistently for the past 36 years – will cease its Monday through Friday live distribution via Wegner/Echobox on May 3. The current “Good Day Show with Doug Stephan & Jai Kershner” will be transitioned into two four-hour weekend programs, “Good Day Saturday” and “Good Day Sunday” that will be delivered to affiliate stations via FTP. Stephan says the two programs will be hosted by himself and Jai Kershner and will continue to feature regular and special guests. The programs will be modular so that in addition to airing them on the weekend, stations can air them as a one- or two-hour program. Stephan adds, “This isn’t goodbye, but it is changing when and how we will deliver our program. Weekends are a vast wasteland of infomercials and reruns. The content on this new show aligns with the same positive approach – features and friends that listeners have become accustomed to from ‘Good Day.’ This new program is deliberately formatted so each hour stands on its own and can be used in any daypart on the weekend or weekdays, and it can be aired more than once, should you want to do that.” United Stations Media Networks is handling FTP distribution and Stephan notes that his podcast programs remain unchanged, including the daily “Good Day” podcast. For more information contact Mike McVay at mikemcvay@mcvaymedia.com or Doug Stephan at doug.stephan@gmail.com.

Industry News

Audacy Cuts Hit KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh’s Rick Dayton

Among the employees of Audacy terminated in its ongoing reduction in force is Rick Dayton, the formerim KDKA-TV personality who became afternoon drive host at news/talk KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh in December of 2020. Colin Dunlap appears to be set to continue hosting the afternoon drive show solo. Audacy has stated that these staff cuts will amount to “less than 2%” of the company’s workforce.

Industry News

New RAB CEO Appears on “Chachi Loves Everybody” Podcast

The latest duo of podcasts hosted by Benztown president Dave “Chachi” Denes have dropped. Joining Denes on the “Chachi Loves Everybody” podcast are new Radio Advertising Bureau CEO Mike Hulvey and Epic Media founder Brad Samuel. The two programs were recorded at the recent 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Listen to them here.

Industry News

Beasley Southwest Florida Raises Funds for Golisano Children’s Hospital

Beasley Media Group’s Southwest Florida radio stations – including sports talk WBCN-AM, Fort Myers – joined forces with Children’s Miracle Network to shine a spotlight on Golisano Children’s Hospital and raised more than $50,000 for pediatric healthcare during a radiothon held on April 4. Beasley Soutwest Florida VP and market manager AJ Lurie comments, “We have an amazing team, and I am grateful to work with them. I am grateful to everyone who made this event a success. We are proud to partner with Children’s Miracle Network and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Thank you to each person who donated and every sponsor who supported our efforts.”

Industry News

iHeartMedia Named Webby Podcast Company of the Year

At this year’s Webby Awards, iHeartMedia was named the Webby Podcast Company of the Year. iHeartMedia was recognized with 18 Webby Awards, 38 nominations and 16 honorees. The Webby Awards is an international awards program that celebrates the best of the internet across various forms of media, including websites, video, advertising, media & PR, social, apps and podcasts. The ceremony is overseen by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.

Job Opportunity

WHO, Des Moines Seeks Talk Host

iHeartMedia is seeking a talented talk show host in a rare opportunity to join one of America’s great radioim stations… the legendary WHO in Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines is a wonderful place in which to live with terrific amenities. You will work with strong local management invested in your success. WHO is a ratings and revenue leader that is looking for opportunities to grow and win. You could be the next chapter in the second century of WHO serving Iowa! Find out more and apply here.

Job Opportunity

Baltimore Station Seeks GSM

A heritage radio station in Baltimore, MD is seeking a creative, hands-on manager with a passion for helping account executives develop their skills and meet and exceed company goals.

Candidates should have a record of success in media sales and management, experience selling a conservative talk format, and a strong background in digital sales. The ideal candidate should be an expert in coaching and developing all levels of sellers.

This is a full-time position with compensation to include salary, overrides, and incentives.

Please send your resume or contact information to radiosalesmanager@gmail.com.