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Top Radio News
Dolly Parton Dies at 80 After Brief Cancer Battle
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 8:02pm CT |
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Country music legend Dolly Parton, whose songs, unmistakable voice and larger-than-life personality made her one of the most beloved entertainers of her generation, died Tuesday, August 25, in Nashville following a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.
Parton's representatives confirmed that she died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones. The type of cancer was not disclosed.
Born January 19, 1946, in East Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children and grew up in poverty in a farming family in the Smoky Mountains. Music became her way out. After graduating from high school in 1964, she headed to Nashville and began building a career that would eventually span nearly six decades.
Her breakthrough came after joining "The Porter Wagoner Show" in 1967. Parton later established herself as a solo superstar and one of country music's most prolific songwriters, creating classics including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "I Will Always Love You" and "9 to 5."
Parton's original recording of "I Will Always Love You" topped the country chart, while Whitney Houston's 1992 version for "The Bodyguard" turned the composition into one of the most recognizable songs in pop music.
Her success extended well beyond country radio. Parton crossed over to the pop charts and starred in films including "9 to 5," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Steel Magnolias." She also became a successful businesswoman, most notably through Dollywood, the East Tennessee theme park bearing her name.
Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide during her career and was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Her honors included multiple Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts.
Her philanthropic work became nearly as recognizable as her music. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, launched in 1995, grew from a program serving children in her home county to an international effort that has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children. She also supported disaster relief, education and medical research, including a $1 million contribution to Vanderbilt University Medical Center that helped fund research leading to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Parton's husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at age 82.
As the radio industry remembers an artist whose music was a fixture on the medium for generations, several companies are making special programming available to stations.
Benztown has produced an audio tribute to Parton's life and career. The special is voiced by MJ Bloch and was written and produced by Thomas Green.
SuiteRadio is also offering stations a free six-song tribute hosted by Rowdy Yates. The turnkey special runs 21 minutes and 33 seconds and celebrates Parton's life and music. It is available to radio immediately, with stations able to request the download from SuiteRadio.
Parton leaves behind a catalog that helped define generations of country music and a legacy extending through songwriting, film, business and philanthropy.
The Benztown tribute is available on SoundCloud.
Stations can request the SuiteRadio special at here.
Audacy: Hometown Voices Drive Sports Audio Growth
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 3:01pm CT |
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Sports fans have more ways than ever to follow their favorite teams, but Audacy says the growing accessibility of local radio play-by-play is giving the traditional "hometown voice" a renewed role in how audiences experience live sports.
In a new Audacy Insights report, the company points to changing media habits and technology as factors helping sports audio reach listeners beyond traditional radios. Fans increasingly follow games while commuting, exercising, cooking or doing other activities rather than committing several hours to a television screen.
According to Edison Research data cited by Audacy, the share of sports radio listening taking place on mobile devices has tripled since 2022. Smartphones, wireless headphones and streaming have also made it easier for fans to follow hometown broadcasts while traveling or living outside their team's market.
Audacy says audio is also increasingly complementing television rather than competing with it. Its research found 36% of Major League Baseball fans have paired radio play-by-play with a live television broadcast, allowing them to watch the game while hearing their preferred local announcers. Apple TV offers viewers the option of selecting local radio audio during live baseball telecasts.
That combination is moving into stadiums as well. At Citi Field, Audacy and SportsBug offer synchronized New York Mets radio play-by-play that fans can hear through their phones and earbuds while watching the game. Through the first 50 games of the season, fans had initiated more than 17,000 streams and consumed more than 3,800 hours of the in-stadium audio.
Chicago Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes, who has called more than 7,000 MLB games during his career, said baseball remains particularly well suited to the medium.
"No sport is better suited for radio than baseball," Hughes said, noting the constant communication between announcers and their audience. Hughes said listeners frequently tell him his voice accompanies them in the car, during dinner or while doing chores, summarizing the relationship by saying, "We're part of people's lives."
Audacy argues that streaming has effectively removed the geographic limits once associated with local sports radio. Fans can now hear their hometown announcers while traveling, living across the country, watching television or even sitting inside the stadium.
The result, the company says, is a sports audio experience increasingly defined not by where listeners are, but by how they choose to follow the game.
Beasley Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 3:40pm CT |
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Beasley Broadcast Group has regained compliance with Nasdaq's minimum stockholders' equity requirement, resolving a listing issue disclosed earlier this year.
In an SEC Form 8-K filing, Beasley said it received written notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department on August 19 confirming that the company had regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1). Nasdaq has closed the matter.
The rule requires companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market to maintain at least $2.5 million in stockholders' equity.
Beasley had previously disclosed that Nasdaq notified the company on April 13 that it was not in compliance with the minimum equity requirement. The broadcaster reported the deficiency in an April 14 SEC filing.
The latest filing does not provide details on how Beasley restored its stockholders' equity to the required level.
Beasley's Class A common stock continues to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "BBGI."
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MaxxKonnect Launches StationGuard Monitoring Suite
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 2:16pm CT |
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MaxxKonnect has launched StationGuard, a modular software suite designed to monitor broadcast program audio, online streams and over-the-air signals and alert station personnel when problems occur.
StationGuard is the first product released under the company's MonitorMaxx banner. The PC-based software provides engineering and programming personnel with a centralized view of critical signals and can be accessed across a station's network through a browser-based HTML5 interface.
The suite consists of three modules. SilenceGuard continuously monitors program audio for silence or sustained low levels and maintains audio logs for troubleshooting. StreamHound monitors online streams for connection and audio problems, while TunerGuard monitors off-air AM, FM, HD Radio and weather-band signals using compatible tuner hardware.
Each module can send alerts by email or phone and generate SNMP alerts for integration with existing monitoring systems.
StationGuard also maintains historical information including RDS and metadata history and RF signal levels, allowing engineers to determine when a problem occurred, how long it lasted and other details that may assist with troubleshooting.
A built-in universal audio logger can record available sources across the suite. Recordings are accessible through a web browser, with users able to select and retrieve only the portion of audio they need rather than downloading entire 30- or 60-minute recordings.
"Most broadcast problems don't begin as major outages. They begin as a missed alarm, a silent stream or a signal that nobody realizes has disappeared," said MaxxKonnect President Josh Bohn. "StationGuard keeps watch over those critical signals around the clock and gives broadcasters the information they need to respond quickly."
MaxxKonnect said StationGuard is designed to complement rather than replace broadcasters' existing systems. Its modules can be deployed separately or combined with other MonitorMaxx products, including the forthcoming Airwave Ops.
MonitorMaxx uses a modular subscription model, allowing broadcasters to select individual capabilities and add additional modules as their technical requirements or operations expand.
Hope Media Expands in Fort Myers with Two Formats
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 10:57am CT |
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Hope Media Group is expanding its presence in Fort Myers with the launch of two additional Christian radio formats, bringing Vida Unida and Worship 24/7 to FM signals in Southwest Florida.
Spanish-language Vida Unida will air on W213BQ (90.5 FM), while W300EF (107.9 FM) will carry the Worship 24/7 network. Both services have previously been available in the market through the HD channels of WAYJ.
The expansion builds on Hope Media Group's longstanding presence in Fort Myers, where WAYJ debuted in 1987 as the first station in what became the WayFM network.
"This is a very special market for us because WayFM's genesis was here," said Hope Media Group President and CEO Joe Paulo. "How appropriate that even after nearly 40 years, we have the privilege of not only continuing to reach people through WayFM, but that we can also expand the impact with worship and Spanish-language formats now."
Vida Unida features Spanish-language Christian programming, while Worship 24/7 focuses on worship music. Hope Media Group said both networks are designed to provide faith-based programming centered on encouragement and hope.
W213BQ and W300EF are expected to begin carrying the new formats during the week of August 25.
October and Tony Gonzalez Launch Relationship Podcast
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 2:22pm CT |
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My Cultura Podcast Network and SMAC Productions are launching "No Safe Words with October and Tony Gonzalez," a new weekly podcast featuring candid conversations about marriage, relationships and family life. The series premieres September 1.
Hosted by television personality October Gonzalez and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, the podcast will feature the couple in conversations with high-profile and celebrity couples about the realities of maintaining long-term relationships.
Married for more than 20 years, the Gonzalezes will draw on their own experiences navigating a blended family, raising children, major life changes and life in the public eye. The show will explore topics including love, conflict, communication, parenting and how relationships evolve over time.
"Relationships aren't something you just get lucky with; they're actively built through constant hard work every single day with your partner, across all areas," the couple said. They added that being open about difficult subjects has helped strengthen their relationship, while acknowledging they are still learning about communication themselves.
Leo Gomez, Head of iHeartMedia's My Cultura Podcast Network, said the couple's relationship is rooted in "honesty, growth and authenticity," adding that the podcast will give listeners access to a side of their lives that is rarely shared publicly.
"No Safe Words" joins a My Cultura lineup that has grown to more than 60 podcasts. The iHeartMedia network, launched in 2021 in collaboration with Enrique Santos, focuses on Latino voices and stories and includes shows from Chiquis, Jorge and Paola Ramos, Ana Navarro, Wilmer Valderrama and others.
New episodes of "No Safe Words with October and Tony Gonzalez" will be released Tuesdays beginning September 1. The series will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and other podcast platforms.
Lemonada Launches 'The Dash' with Chambers, Hermer
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 2:48pm CT |
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Lemonada Media has launched "The Dash," a new weekly video and audio series hosted by television personalities and longtime friends Elizabeth Chambers and Marissa Hermer.
The series, which debuted Tuesday, features candid conversations about dating, divorce, motherhood, entrepreneurship, sex, aging and other aspects of modern life. Chambers and Hermer will draw from their own experiences while discussing current headlines and offering their perspectives on relationships and the expectations placed on women.
The show's title refers to the dash between the year a person is born and the year they die, with the hosts describing it as a reminder to make the most of life. Lemonada says the program will challenge what it calls outdated assumptions about aging, divorce, motherhood and dating.
"Life rarely goes according to plan, but it usually makes for a great story," Chambers and Hermer said. "The Dash is where we get to tell those stories honestly, without pretending to have it all figured out."
The hosts said the program will embrace life's difficult moments as well as its successes while questioning conventional expectations and bringing humor to their conversations.
"Elizabeth and Marissa bring a refreshing, hilarious, and completely unbridled and unapologetic perspective to the conversations so many women are having behind closed doors and in group chats," said Lemonada CEO Stephanie Wittels Wachs. "We're thrilled to partner with them on 'The Dash' to create a show that feels empowering and incredibly fun."
"The Dash" is available on major podcast platforms, with new episodes scheduled for release each Tuesday.
Good Karma Brands Rebrands as Good Karma Sports
| RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 12:57pm CT |
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Good Karma Brands has changed its name to Good Karma Sports, adopting a new identity the company says better reflects its growth from a single radio station into a national sports media and marketing business.
The company, founded with one radio station in December 1997, now operates across sports media, advertising, content, distribution and partnerships. Its relationships span the NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, college sports, ESPN, TNT Sports and other sports properties.
"For nearly 30 years, we've built our business around sports, expanding our capabilities and relationships while staying deeply connected to the local markets we serve," said founder and CEO Craig Karmazin. He said the company now offers advertisers a customizable entry into the sports marketplace through audiences, content, partnerships, talent and experiences.
A major part of Good Karma Sports' business involves connecting local, regional and national advertisers with sports audiences. The company's work includes representing in-game streaming advertising for regional sports networks and platforms and assisting teams with the sales, content, distribution and operation of video and audio networks.
"As the sports media and regional rights landscape continues to evolve, we see a growing opportunity to help sports properties reach more fans, create greater value from their content and build stronger connections with partners and brands," said President Steve Politziner.
Good Karma's national platform is anchored by its relationship with ESPN, which dates to 2000. The company serves as the exclusive sales representative and operations arm for ESPN Radio Network and ESPN Podcasts, encompassing more than 50 podcasts. Good Karma says its ESPN relationship reaches sports fans digitally across all 210 DMAs and more than 57 million ESPN audio consumers each week through radio, streaming and podcasts.
Through ESPN Radio, Good Karma's national audio portfolio includes the NBA, MLB, College Football Playoff and NFL Draft, along with championship events.
The company also maintains local play-by-play relationships with numerous professional franchises, including the New York Knicks and Rangers, Los Angeles Lakers, Rams and Angels, Chicago Bears and White Sox, Miami Heat and Inter Miami CF, Cleveland Browns, Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, and Buffalo Bills.
The company said the Good Karma Sports name is intended to reflect its evolution beyond its radio origins and its growing involvement across sports content, advertising, distribution and media operations.
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Martha Stewart Podcast Expands to Netflix
| RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 1:08pm CT |
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Martha Stewart and iHeartPodcasts are expanding "The Martha Stewart Podcast" to Netflix, where full video episodes of the series will debut Wednesday, August 26. The move is part of iHeartMedia and Netflix's growing exclusive video podcast partnership. The program will continue to be distributed as an audio podcast by iHeartPodcasts through the iHeartRadio app and other podcast platforms.
"I'm delighted to bring my podcast to Netflix, and with that, introduce the medium of video to the series," said Stewart. "Netflix is the perfect partner to share and amplify the thoughtful and informative conversations the show is known for with an even greater audience."
"The Martha Stewart Podcast" features weekly conversations with guests ranging from business leaders and entrepreneurs to artists and longtime friends, exploring their careers, personal lives and experiences.
The Netflix launch episode will feature entrepreneur, investor and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in a conversation covering ambition, family, investing and life with his wife, Serena Williams. Upcoming guests include bestselling author Harlan Coben and Grammy-winning producer and artist benny blanco.
"Martha is one of the most iconic and influential voices in media, with an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences," said iHeartPodcasts President Will Pearson. "We're thrilled to expand 'The Martha Stewart Podcast' to Netflix."
Stewart's Emmy-nominated cooking series "Martha Cooks" will also join Netflix beginning Tuesday, August 25. The series features Stewart sharing recipes, techniques and culinary expertise alongside chefs, friends and special guests.
iHeartPodcasts Sets 9/11 Mafia Drama 'UnderGround Zero'
| RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 2:44pm CT |
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iHeartPodcasts, Thoroughbred Studios and Goldhawk Productions will launch "UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob," a scripted drama starring several former "The Sopranos" cast members and based on events surrounding organized crime in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The series, written and created by Stephen Kronish, will premiere September 1, with all episodes released simultaneously. Michael Imperioli leads the cast and serves as an executive producer, with Steve Schirripa, Ray Abruzzo and Arthur Nascarella also starring.
"UnderGround Zero" dramatizes the story of members of New York's organized crime families who allegedly saw an opportunity to profit from the massive recovery and cleanup effort following the destruction of the World Trade Center. The story follows their scheme and a police officer whose investigation ultimately helped bring down participants.
Producers say the drama is based on real events, although names have been changed and some events dramatized. The series centers on two men whose lives intersect as they confront their pasts and each other.
"As a New Yorker who lived through 9/11, this story resonated with me immediately," said Imperioli, who plays Lt. Frank Sturiano. "UnderGround Zero is rooted in crime and investigation, but ultimately, it's a story about family, loyalty and survival."
Schirripa said the project revealed a side of the aftermath of the attacks that was unfamiliar to him. "It was a story I thought I knew, but I didn't," he said, adding that working again with former "Sopranos" castmates Abruzzo and Nascarella made the project particularly meaningful.
"UnderGround Zero" is the third historical drama from the collaboration between iHeartPodcasts and Thoroughbred Studios, following "Buzz" and "Saigon." Thoroughbred Studios is a joint venture involving former Time Warner Chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes, former Sony Corporation Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer and television veteran Jeremy Fox.
"One of the first things I did when I became Head of HBO was to greenlight 'The Sopranos,'" Bewkes said. "Now, 25 years later to tell this important story, it was the perfect opportunity to bring back that amazing cast."
The production was recorded in New York with a cast composed largely of New Yorkers, including performers who experienced September 11 firsthand.
"Great storytelling has the power to transport listeners and bring history to life in a deeply personal way," said iHeartPodcasts President Will Pearson. He said the decision to make the entire series available on its premiere date is intended to allow listeners to fully immerse themselves in the story.
"UnderGround Zero" will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available September 1 through the iHeartRadio app and other podcast platforms.
Radio Features Mark 25th Anniversary of 9/11
| RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 2:37pm CT |
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A new series of 30-second radio features has been produced to help stations commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The package consists of ten professionally produced features remembering the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks and honoring the first responders, military personnel and ordinary citizens who demonstrated courage and compassion in their aftermath.
The features also recall the sense of unity, resilience and mutual support that emerged in communities across the country following the attacks.
Designed to fit into regular station programming, the series is being offered on a market-exclusive basis, limited to one station or station group in each market. The licensing fee is $145 for the year of purchase.
A free demo is available for stations interested in reviewing the features or exploring sponsorship opportunities with local advertisers. Stations interested in securing exclusive rights for their market may contact Rod Schwartz Creative Services for availability, licensing details, and the demo by visiting here.
NAB Webinar to Address New FCC EAS Cyber Rules
| RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 2:57pm CT |
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The National Association of Broadcasters and National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations will host a free webinar September 1 to help broadcasters prepare for new FCC cybersecurity requirements covering Emergency Alert System equipment.
The FCC rules take effect September 29 and require broadcasters to implement specific safeguards designed to protect EAS equipment and systems from cyberattacks.
Among the requirements are 15-character passwords, firewalls, network segmentation and prompt installation of security patches and software updates. NAB and NASBA say implementing the safeguards could prove complex and potentially costly for some stations.
The webinar, scheduled for September 1 at 12pm ET, will provide practical guidance for station owners, general managers, engineers and IT professionals ahead of the compliance deadline.
Panelists will include KAMU-TV and KAMU-FM Associate Director of Engineering Wayne Pecena; Digital Alert Systems Vice President of Global and Government Affairs Edward Czarnecki, Ph.D.; and Sage Alerting Systems President Harold Price.
Indiana Broadcasters Association Executive Director Dave Arland and New York State Broadcasters Association President David Donovan will moderate the session.
The webinar comes four weeks ahead of the September 29 deadline, when broadcasters will be required to have the FCC's new EAS cybersecurity protections in place. Register here.
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Pat Paxton to Exit Saga Communications as SVP/Content
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, August 21, 2026 | 7:58pm CT |
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Saga Communications Senior VP of Content Pat Paxton will exit the company at the end of August, with two of the broadcaster's local programming executives set to take over his responsibilities. Paxton will remain with Saga through Friday, August 28 to assist with the transition. Ocala, FL OM Scott Chase and Clarksville, TN OM Ryan Ploeckelman will co-chair the company's programming department with the new titles of Group Program Director.
Saga CEO Chris Forgy announced Paxton's departure internally on Friday. Paxton subsequently sent a note to employees saying he had been considering stepping away for several months.
"I've had a long successful career in this business and I've loved every second of it," Paxton wrote. "But I'm not as young as I used to be. I've been considering this for a few months and given the challenges Chris mentioned in his email, stepping away now makes perfect sense."
Paxton expressed confidence in his successors, calling Chase and Ploeckelman "two of the smartest programming minds out there" and saying he expects the transition to be smooth.
Paxton joined Saga in June 2023 after previously spending 22 years overseeing programming for Entercom/Audacy. He had initially stepped away from full-time radio following his departure from Audacy before being recruited to Saga.
"Five years ago, after running programming for Audacy for 22 years, I retired for the first time," Paxton said. "I intended to stay retired, or at least semi-retired. Then in 2023 I met with Chris, Wayne, and Sam at the Embassy Suites in Detroit. I came out of that meeting thinking I might want to do this again. So I did."
Paxton's radio career dates to the 1980s and has included stops in Boston, Houston, Orlando, La Crosse, Sioux Falls, Huntington and Yankton.
In his farewell message, Paxton also praised Saga's Content Directors for their work, saying, "No one works harder than you. No one wears more hats than you. And you do it all with energy and passion."
Declan Moore Named President of Hubbard DC
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, August 21, 2026 | 11:01am CT |
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Hubbard | Media That Connects has named Declan Moore President and Market Manager of its Washington, DC operations, overseeing WTOP, Federal News Network and the local office of 2060 Digital.
Moore succeeds longtime Hubbard Washington executive Joel Oxley and joins the company after most recently serving as Head of International for Wondery, an Amazon company. There, he led international strategy and expansion for the audio company across content, advertising, subscriptions and platform distribution.
Before joining Wondery, Moore spent 23 years with National Geographic in Washington. His roles included Chief Media Officer and President of Publishing and Digital Media for the National Geographic Society, as well as CEO of National Geographic Partners.
"I'm honored to have the opportunity to build on the extraordinary legacy Joel Oxley has created here in Washington," said Moore. "WTOP, Federal News Network and 2060 Digital are exceptional brands with deep connections to the communities they serve throughout the National Capital Region."
Moore said he looks forward to working with the Hubbard teams to build on the brands' strengths while helping the businesses continue to evolve and grow. He also cited Hubbard's commitment to impartial journalism, strong local brands and long-term thinking as factors that attracted him to the company.
Hubbard CEO Ginny Hubbard said Moore brings a strong record of preserving established media brands while positioning them for the future.
"While he has very big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of Joel Oxley, Declan has a strong track record of retaining the essence and legacy of media brands while leading them into the future," Hubbard said.
She added that Moore has expressed a strong appreciation for WTOP and Federal News Network and their service to the Washington community.
Buffalo Radio Legend Sandy Beach Dies at 86
| RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, August 23, 2026 | 6:29pm CT |
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Legendary Buffalo radio personality Sandy Beach, whose broadcasting career spanned 60 years and earned him induction into three halls of fame, has died at age 86 following a brief illness.
Beach arrived in Buffalo in 1968 during the heyday of WKBW-AM, joining a lineup that included Danny Neaverth and Joey Reynolds. The 50,000-watt Top 40 powerhouse gave Beach a platform that helped make him one of the market's best-known radio personalities.
His career also took him to Hartford, Dallas, San Francisco and Milwaukee, but Buffalo remained his radio home. He later hosted mornings at WHTT and WJYE (Star 102.5) and spent time in talk at WGR.
Beach joined WBEN-AM in 1997 and went on to host "Beach and Company" for 23 years. The move established a second chapter of his career as a talk personality, where his knowledge, quick wit and distinctive laugh attracted a loyal audience.
Former Audacy Senior VP/Market Manager Tim Wenger, who brought Beach back to Buffalo from Milwaukee, said he believed Beach's "intelligence, curiosity and quick wit" would translate well to full-time talk radio.
"Sandy immediately attracted a loyal audience with his daily entertaining 'take' on issues and grew his show to be a staple in the Buffalo media landscape," Wenger said. "Very few broadcasters have the lasting impact that Sandy left us."
Neaverth remembered Beach as one of the quickest and best-prepared personalities he ever worked with.
"He was funnier than me, he was funnier than Joey Reynolds," Neaverth said during a WBEN appearance Friday. "He was funnier than anybody I ever worked with, because he was so quick and he was so prepared for his show at all times."
Beach retired from WBEN on July 30, 2020, ending his six-decade broadcasting career and turning the microphone over to Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia.
In his final broadcast, Beach thanked the generations of listeners who had accompanied him throughout his career. "Thank you for sharing your life with me, because if you hadn't done that, I couldn't have done it myself," Beach said. "Thank you and goodbye."
GAB Names 2026 Honors Award Recipients
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, August 21, 2026 | 4:32pm CT |
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The Georgia Association of Broadcasters has announced the recipients of its 2026 GAB Honors Awards, which will be presented during GABCON, September 25-26 at the Gas South District Convention Center in Duluth, GA.
This year's honorees are Savannah Bananas founder Jesse Cole as Georgian of the Year, State Representative Clint Crowe as Legislator of the Year, WSB-TV Atlanta's Michael Williams with the Ditty-McLemore Engineering Award and WRDW-WAGT Augusta's Estelle Parsley with the Golden Mic Award.
Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Banana Ball Championship League, is being recognized for his impact on Georgia and for transforming the Savannah Bananas into an international entertainment brand. The organization says Banana Ball has more than 35 million social media followers, while the Bananas have sold out every game since their inaugural season and built a ticket waiting list numbering in the millions.
Crowe represents Georgia House District 118 and has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2020. He chairs the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and serves on several other committees. Before entering the legislature, Crowe spent a decade in law enforcement and has worked in real estate for more than 20 years.
Williams, Senior Manager of IT at WSB-TV, receives the Ditty-McLemore Engineering Award recognizing exceptional contributions to broadcast engineering. He has more than 30 years of broadcast industry experience, including more than 18 years at WSB-TV and over 28 years with Cox Media Group across radio and television.
Parsley, Vice President of News for WRDW-WAGT, receives the Golden Mic Award for her contributions to the GAB and Georgia broadcasting. During her more than three decades in local journalism, she has emphasized investigative reporting and journalist development. Under her leadership, WRDW-WAGT has received 10 National Edward R. Murrow Awards, 40 regional Murrow Awards and 14 Southeast Emmys.
Parsley has personally received four National Murrow Awards and six Emmys and has been inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle and GAB Hall of Fame.
"These four honorees represent the very best of Georgia... from broadcasting and public service to innovation and community impact," said GAB President Randy Gravley. "We are proud to recognize their accomplishments and look forward to celebrating each of them this fall at GABCON 2026."
Crowe's Legislator of the Year Award will be presented during the "Breakfast with Counsel" on September 26. Cole, Williams and Parsley will receive their awards later that day during the GAB Honors Luncheon.
Salem Media Goes Private Following WaterStone Deal
| RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 2:08pm CT |
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Salem Media has completed its acquisition by The Christian Community Foundation, Inc., doing business as WaterStone, taking the Christian and conservative media company private. WaterStone acquired all outstanding shares of Salem Media common stock for $1 per share, representing approximately a 250% premium to Salem's trading price before the transaction was announced.
Salem said the deal begins a new chapter focused on long-term growth while maintaining the company's Christian and conservative media mission. The company will continue operating its radio, digital, streaming, podcasting, television and publishing businesses.
"This is an exciting day for Salem and the beginning of an important new chapter for our company," said Salem Media CEO David Santrella. "Salem enters this partnership with strong momentum, an extraordinary portfolio of talent and brands, and more ways than ever to reach audiences across the country."
Santrella said the WaterStone partnership will give Salem the ability to invest for the future while remaining committed to the mission that has guided the company since its founding.
Salem's programming portfolio includes Christian broadcasters Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, Alistair Begg and Allen Jackson. Its conservative personalities include Scott Jennings, Larry O'Connor, Alex Marlow, Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt and Lara Trump.
WaterStone President Richard von Gnechten, who also serves as Chairman of Salem Media's Board of Directors, said the acquisition is intended to strengthen Salem rather than change its direction.
"Today is not about changing what Salem is," von Gnechten said. "It is about giving Salem an even stronger foundation to build on what it does best."
Salem co-founder and board member Edward Atsinger III said he is confident the company's mission will continue under its new ownership. "When Stuart Epperson and I founded Salem more than 50 years ago, we could not have imagined the reach and impact it would have today," Atsinger said. "Knowing Salem's mission will be carried forward by a partner that shares our values gives me tremendous confidence in what comes next."
With the transaction completed, Salem and WaterStone said they will focus on strengthening the company's existing businesses while pursuing additional opportunities for investment and long-term growth.
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