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Top Radio News

Greg Hanson Named Connoisseur Shreveport Market Manager


Greg Hanson
Greg Hanson

Connoisseur Media has promoted Greg Hanson to Market Manager and named Paul Cannell Operations Manager for its five-station Shreveport, LA cluster, including KDKS, KTAL, KBTT, KLKL and KOKA. Hanson moves into the Market Manager position after serving as Operations Manager for the cluster. In his expanded role, he will oversee programming, sales, promotions, digital initiatives and revenue development.

"Greg has been a guiding force behind the programming and success of these stations for many years, and his deep connection to the Shreveport community has made him an invaluable leader," said Connoisseur Media Senior Vice President, Southwest Region Jay Richardson. "His experience and understanding of this market make him the right person to lead the team as we continue to grow and evolve."

Cannell succeeds Hanson as Operations Manager, bringing previous programming and operations leadership experience in the Shreveport market. His background also includes digital, promotions, talent development and revenue generation across multiple formats.

"Paul was a natural fit for this role. He knows radio, he knows this market, and he understands how all the pieces have to work together," said Hanson. "As I move into the Market Manager role, I'm excited to have someone I trust leading programming and operations and helping us keep moving forward."

BIG 100 Sets Commanders Programming for 2026


Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders

WBIG (BIG 100) Washington, DC has unveiled its Washington Commanders programming lineup for the 2026 NFL season, expanding its coverage with daily guests and weeknight programming. The iHeartMedia Classic Rock outlet serves as the official flagship of the Commanders and will feature a rotating lineup of former players, analysts and reporters during Big Rig's weekday morning show.

Former Washington wide receiver Santana Moss will join Mondays at 8:30am, followed by former Washington tight end and current analyst Logan Paulsen Tuesdays at 8:30am. Former linebacker LaVar Arrington will appear Wednesdays at 8:30am, while The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala joins Thursdays at 8:30am.

Friday's lineup will feature Tim Murray at 8am, followed at 8:30am by Bram Weinstein, the radio voice of the Washington Commanders.

In addition to the morning appearances, BIG 100 will expand its Commanders coverage into primetime with dedicated programming each weeknight at 8pm.

Jeff Weber Media Adds Two Syndicated Radio Products


Greatest Hits USA
Greatest Hits USA

Jeff Weber Media has expanded its client roster with the addition of "Greatest Hits USA" and "Pop Quiz," handling advertising and affiliate sales for both syndicated radio products.

"Greatest Hits USA," hosted by veteran radio personality Chuck Matthews, is a three-hour weekly program featuring music from the 1960s and '70s. Regular features include the Birthday Bunch, News from the Past and listener requests through a toll-free line.

Matthews is Program Director at WQGR in Cleveland and has previously worked at WMJI in Cleveland, WLCL in Atlanta and WTRG in Raleigh. He also works as a national voiceover talent.

"We are excited to work with Jeff and his company to continue our rapid affiliate growth," said Greatest Hits USA CEO Rick Schmidt. "Jeff's expertise in advertising and syndication will be a great benefit to us as we add to our current base of more than 150 stations."

The second product, "Pop Quiz," is a two-minute feature hosted by radio personality Jeffrey Jay. Each edition explores the stories behind songs and recording artists while testing listeners with music trivia. Featured artists range from the Four Seasons, Lesley Gore and the Supremes to Pat Benatar, Michael Jackson and the Police.

Jeff Weber Media President Jeff Weber has previously served as a GM or GSM in Albany, Indianapolis and Baltimore. He also spent 12 years as COO of Business TalkRadio Network, where the company says he helped expand its affiliate roster from 130 stations to more than 1,000.

Both "Greatest Hits USA" and "Pop Quiz" are being offered to stations on a barter and market-exclusive basis.

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Audacy Partners With Smosh for Podcasts and Video


Smosh Mouth
Smosh Mouth

Audacy has entered into a multi-year podcast and video partnership with comedy brand Smosh, becoming the exclusive sales and distribution partner for its podcast lineup. Beginning October 1, Audacy will handle sales and distribution for all Smosh podcasts, including "Smosh Mouth," "Smosh Reads Reddit Stories," "Assumptions" and "URL."

Founded in 2005 by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, Smosh was among YouTube's early breakout comedy channels and has since developed into an independent comedy studio and media brand. The company says it has more than 75 million social media followers and has generated 20 billion YouTube views.

"Smosh's podcasts are a core piece of our broader content strategy and an important way for us to connect with our growing audience," said Smosh CEO Alessandra Catanese. "As we continue to invest in this part of our business, Audacy brings unmatched advertising and distribution."

Audacy Head of Podcasts Leah Reis-Dennis said the agreement will expand the company's video capabilities while providing advertisers access to Smosh's audience. "Smosh didn't just break out as a brand on YouTube -- they helped write the playbook for what creator-led entertainment could become," Reis-Dennis said. "Bringing Smosh into the Audacy network is a significant opportunity for us to expand our video capabilities."

The Smosh podcast lineup ranges from comedy and internet culture to Reddit commentary and interviews. Its shows are available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.

Study: AM/FM Leads Young Listeners in Cars


Edison Research at SSRS
Edison Research at SSRS

AM/FM radio accounts for 70% of ad-supported audio listening in the car among Americans ages 13-34, according to new data from Edison Research at SSRS' Share of Ear study.

The research found that Americans in the 13-34 demographic spend an average of just under one hour per day listening to audio in the car. Of that listening time, 63% is spent with ad-supported audio platforms.

Among those ad-supported sources, AM/FM radio -- including both over-the-air broadcasts and radio streams -- commands 70% of listening time, giving radio a substantial lead over other audio options.

Podcasts rank second with 11% of ad-supported in-car audio time among the younger demographic. Streaming music accounts for 10%, although Edison noted that much of the category's overall listening occurs on ad-free services.

Music and music videos on YouTube account for another 7% of ad-supported in-car listening, while SiriusXM represents 2%. Edison noted that only SiriusXM's non-music channels carry advertising.

Edison said the findings demonstrate AM/FM radio's continuing ability to reach younger consumers in the car despite the growing number of audio choices available to listeners.

Share of Ear measures audio consumption by everyone in the vehicle, not solely the driver.

iHeart Leads Podtrac August Publisher Rankings


Podtrac
Podtrac

iHeart Audience Network and iHeartPodcasts remained atop Podtrac's U.S. Podcast Publishers & Networks ranking for August 2026, while "Crime Junkie" continued as the top podcast based on U.S. unique monthly audience.

iHeart Audience Network ranked first among publishers and sales networks with 58.875 million U.S. unique monthly audience members and 266.85 million U.S. streams and downloads across 26,598 active shows. iHeartPodcasts followed at No. 2 with 31.112 million unique monthly audience members and 150.106 million streams and downloads across 947 shows.

NPR Sales Network was third with an audience of 18.116 million, followed by Libsyn at 13.701 million. Vox Media rounded out the top five with 6.851 million. PodcastOne, The Walt Disney Company, Fox Audio Network, DailyWire and Barstool Sports completed the top 10.

Podtrac reported that eight participants in its U.S. Publishers & Networks ranking increased U.S. downloads in August compared with July, while 18 posted month-to-month gains in U.S. unique monthly audience.

In the Top Podcasts ranking, Audiochuck's "Crime Junkie" held the No. 1 position, followed by The New York Times' "The Daily" at No. 2. "NPR News Now" ranked third and "Up First from NPR" was fourth, with "Dateline NBC" completing the top five.

"Fox News Hourly Update" ranked sixth, followed by "Pardon My Take," "Pod Save America," "The Ben Shapiro Show" and "Stuff You Should Know."

Among the month's notable moves, The New York Times' "The Ezra Klein Show" climbed five positions to No. 12. "Today, Explained" from Vox Media moved up one spot to No. 17, while The Walt Disney Company's "20/20" also gained one position to No. 20.

"The Shawn Ryan Show" dropped two positions to No. 14, "The Dan Bongino Show" slipped one to No. 15 and "My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark" fell three spots to No. 18.

Benztown to Syndicate Yacht Rock Radio


Yacht Rock Radio
Yacht Rock Radio

Benztown and Yacht Rock Radio have entered into a new syndication partnership that will expand distribution of the two-hour weekly program to radio outlets nationwide. Hosted by radio and television veteran Captain Adam, "Yacht Rock Radio" has added 20 affiliates in 2026 and is now heard on more than 122 stations, including KKDJ-FM, KDRF-FM and WOLX-FM. The show will be available through Benztown on both cash and barter arrangements.

Designed for Classic Hits, AC, Light Rock, Soft Rock, Oldies and Variety stations, the program features music from the late 1970s and early 1980s along with artist interviews, storytelling and pop culture. Featured artists include Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross and Boz Scaggs.

"I'm looking forward to this voyage with Benztown to bring Yacht Rock Radio to more passengers from coast to coast," said Captain Adam. "So put on your Captain's Hat, and raise a glass, to the Yacht Rock Lifestyle pulling in to port at a marina, I mean radio station, near you."

Captain Adam also hosts and emcees Yacht Rock events around the country. He recently appeared at the two-day Yacht Rock Detroit festival and has been tapped as onboard host and emcee for "The Yacht Rock Cruise" aboard Celebrity Cruise Lines in September 2027.

"Captain Adam is the Daniel Day-Lewis of Yacht Rock; he fully commits to the role," said Benztown President Dave "Chachi" Denes. "He's a true method actor who doesn't just play Yacht Rock, he lives it, breathes it, and even orders his pina coladas in character."

Yacht Rock Radio Executive Producer Scott Jameson said the partnership will help bring the program to more stations as the genre continues to attract both longtime fans and younger audiences.

Affiliates will also receive a promotional package featuring localized liners and sweepers, along with social media content for on-air and online promotion.

Jeremy Nobles Named PD of Life 97.9 Fargo


Jeremy Nobles
Jeremy Nobles

KFNW (Life 97.9) in Fargo, ND, has promoted Jeremy Nobles to Program Director. Nobles moves into the programming post after serving as the Contemporary Christian outlet's Assistant Program Director since February, 2025.

"Jeremy is a blast to work with," said Life 97.9 Station Manager Jarrett Stevens. "I look forward with anticipation to what God has in store for Life 97.9 as Jeremy steps into this role. His love for Jesus is evident in everything: family, church, community, and here at Life 97.9."

Nobles relocated to Fargo with his wife and their family of seven, a move he described as a leap of faith that led them to a welcoming community and his role at Life 97.9.

"We have found an amazing community and I get to work with some wonderfully talented people here at Life 97.9," said Nobles. "I'm so happy and thankful for the opportunity to serve the Red River Valley as Program Director."

Life 97.9 is part of the Northwestern Media network of the University of Northwestern - St. Paul.

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RAB Sets AI-Powered Radio Sales Presentation


Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB)
Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB)

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) will present the next installment of its "AI Advantage for Radio Sales" live presentation series, "Why Radio: AI-Powered Selling," on Wednesday, September 16 at noon CT.

Sponsored by Spotwise.ai, the session will focus on RAB's AI-powered Why Radio Assistant and how radio sales professionals can use the tool to identify sales opportunities, prepare for client conversations and improve productivity.

The presentation will be hosted by RAB Senior Vice President of Digital Services Dave Casper, Senior Vice President of Business Development Tammy Greenberg, Senior Vice President of Insights Annette Malave and Senior Vice President of Professional Development Jeff Schmidt.

RAB said the session will feature practical examples, best practices and real-world applications designed to show sellers how to quickly access radio research and insights and turn that information into relevant client conversations.

The organization's AI tools are designed to incorporate artificial intelligence directly into member workflows without requiring users to develop their own complex prompts.

"Why Radio: AI-Powered Selling" is complimentary for RAB members. Register here.

Westwood One Sets 40th Season of NFL Coverage


Westwood One
Westwood One

Westwood One has announced its programming lineup for the 2026 NFL season, marking the network's 40th consecutive season of NFL game coverage. The network's schedule will include Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, eight international games, Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas matchups, late-season Saturday games and the entire NFL postseason.

Coverage begins Wednesday, September 9 at 7pm ET with the New England Patriots visiting the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The season will culminate with Westwood One's broadcast of Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

Kevin Harlan and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner will return as the lead Monday Night Football team and will also call Super Bowl LXI. It will be Harlan's 17th full season with the network and Warner's 13th as an analyst.

Kevin Kugler will handle play-by-play for Thursday Night Football, with Devin McCourty and Ross Tucker rotating as analysts. Ryan Radtke and Mike Golic will call Sunday Night Football.

Westwood One's national play-by-play roster also includes Jason Benetti, Tom McCarthy, Noah Eagle, J.P. Shadrick and John Sadak. Analysts will include Mike Mayock, Ryan Harris, Ryan Leaf, Derek Rackley and Hall of Famer James Lofton.

Jamie Erdahl and former NFL head coach Doug Pederson will anchor the Monday Night Football pregame and halftime shows. Scott Graham returns to host the pregame, halftime and postgame portions of the remaining games in the national package.

In addition to game coverage, Westwood One will offer weekly specialty programs including "NFL Preview," "NFL Insider," "NFL Sunday" and "NFL Fantasy Football Forecast."

Dominican Broadcaster Francis Mendez Dies at 75


Francis Mendez
Francis Mendez

Veteran Dominican broadcaster and communicator Francis Mendez, whose career spanned more than five decades and included years at WSKQ-FM (Mega 97.9) in New York, died Tuesday at age 75, according to Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS).

A native of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, Mendez built a broadcasting career in both his home country and the United States. He became a familiar voice to New York's Hispanic audience during his years with Mega 97.9.

His career included work with Radio Guarachita in the Dominican Republic and the program "Senor Bolero." Mendez also served as a voice for television networks Univision and Telemundo.

"Francis Mendez was not only an unmistakable voice that defined a golden era in New York broadcasting and La Mega 97.9 FM, but also a mentor and an exceptional human being," said Arturo Sosa, SBS New York Programming Director for Mega 97.9 and Amor 93.1.

"His elegance behind the microphone, his deep respect for the listener, and his commitment to the Latino community leave an indelible mark on our company and the entire industry," Sosa added.

SBS said its executives, air personalities and staff at Mega 97.9 and Amor 93.1 joined Mendez's family, friends and the broadcasting and journalism communities in mourning his death.

Funeral arrangements and commemorative tributes are expected to be announced later.

MaxxKonnect Expands AudioScience Partnership


MaxxKonnect
MaxxKonnect

AudioScience has expanded its partnership with MaxxKonnect, making the company the exclusive worldwide source for AudioScience's ASI2816 Streaming Radio Tuner, marketed by MaxxKonnect as the RMT416.

The agreement expands an existing partnership covering the U.S. and Canada and gives broadcasters worldwide a single source for RMT416 sales, application assistance and technical support.

"We have been very pleased with how this partnership has grown," said AudioScience President Richard Gross. "MaxxKonnect has the technical knowledge, industry experience, and customer relationships to take the Streaming Radio Tuner worldwide."

The RMT416 supports up to 16 tuners in a compact 1RU chassis and offers configurable modules for AM, FM, HD Radio, DAB and Weather Band. Features include simultaneous audio monitoring, network audio streaming through Icecast, SNMP monitoring and alerting.

Applications range from EAS and confidence monitoring of over-the-air signals to centralized monitoring of multiple broadcast signals within a market.

"Broadcasters don't just need another piece of hardware," said MaxxKonnect Group President and CEO Josh Bohn. "They need to know how to deploy it, monitor with it, integrate it with the rest of the plant, and get somebody on the phone who understands what they're trying to do."

The RMT416 also integrates with MaxxKonnect's new MonitorMaxx monitoring platform and its StationGuard software, allowing tuner status and alarms to be incorporated into a broader centralized monitoring and notification system.

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Ben Marcotte Named PD of Rock 105 and KGB San Diego


Ben Marcotte
Ben Marcotte

iHeartMedia has named Ben Marcotte Program Director of Rock KIOZ (Rock 105.3) and heritage Rock 101.5 KGB in San Diego, effective immediately.

In his new role, Marcotte will oversee programming as well as social and digital strategy for both stations. He will report to iHeartMedia Executive Vice President of Programming Gene Romano.

"Ben's broad background in rock makes him a perfect fit," said Romano. "He's always curious and creative on how to keep up with listener's always evolving tastes. He'll bring some full volume fun with him to the west coast!"

Marcotte brings more than 14 years of experience with iHeartMedia to the San Diego stations. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Programming for the company's Indianapolis and St. Louis markets.

His previous programming roles include serving as Program Director of Q95 and Indy 103.3 in Indianapolis and 96.5 JACK-FM and ALT 102.9 in Seattle.

"This felt like one of those opportunities you don't overthink," said Marcotte. "Two legendary stations, incredible teams, and a chance to do great radio in San Diego. Excited to get started."

KiKi B. Jones Named WAMO Pittsburgh Brand Manager


KiKi B.
KiKi B.

Audacy has elevated KiKi B. Jones to Brand Manager of WAMO 107.3 in Pittsburgh. In her new role, Jones will oversee the station's content strategy, talent, operations and branding while continuing to host middays weekdays from 10am-4pm ET.

"I've had the privilege of knowing KiKi for over 10 years and have watched her continue to grow," said Audacy Rhythmic AC and Throwback Format Vice President Skip Dillard. "I'm so happy for her elevation and can't wait to see her lead the station into its next evolution."

A Pittsburgh native with more than 25 years of broadcasting experience, Jones has a longtime connection to WAMO. She grew up around the station while following in the footsteps of her father, who was an on-air personality. Her career has included stops in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New York and Washington, DC.

Jones joined Audacy in 2021 as host of "What's Good In Your Hood" on WAMO. The program continues to air Wednesdays at 2pm ET, with a "What's Good In Your Hood Recap" heard Thursdays at 9:20am on sister KDKA Newsradio (KDKA-AM) with Larry Richert.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead WAMO 107.3, a station with such a rich history and deep connection to Pittsburgh," said Jones. "There's something especially meaningful about stepping into this role in my hometown and helping shape the future of a brand that means so much to our community."

Study: Radio Campaign Drove Retail Foot Traffic


Cumulus Media and Westwood One
Cumulus Media and Westwood One

An AM/FM radio advertising campaign for a major retailer generated a 34% lift in foot traffic during a Valentine's Day promotion, according to a new analysis highlighted by the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group.

The study, conducted by location analytics firm Placer.ai, examined store visits associated with a Westwood One network radio campaign across 48 DMA markets. Media Monitors advertising occurrence data was used to determine the campaign's gross rating points (GRPs) in each market.

According to the analysis, foot traffic showed two significant surges during the campaign, on February 11-12 and Valentine's Day, February 14, 2026.

The findings also showed a relationship between the amount of AM/FM advertising delivered in a market and increases in store traffic. Markets receiving very light or light campaign weight generally experienced foot traffic increases of 0-10%, while markets with medium and heavy radio weight generated increases of 10-30%.

Markets were divided into five categories based on campaign weight. Very heavy markets averaged 75 GRPs, followed by heavy markets at 38, medium markets at 22, light markets at nine and very light markets at three GRPs.

Placer.ai measures visits to physical locations using aggregated and anonymized location information. According to the Audio Active Group, the company uses data from a panel of approximately 30 million mobile devices, representing about 8% of the U.S. population.

The Audio Active Group also pointed to previous attribution studies as evidence that radio advertising's impact on store visits can extend beyond the immediate campaign period.

A PlaceIQ analysis of a home improvement retailer's 2019 radio campaign across 44 markets found an increase in its share of category store visits that continued after the initial advertising surge. Separate research from marketing measurement firm Haus found that 25% of incremental marketing lift, on average, occurred after the media spending window had ended.

For brands selling through retail channels, Haus reported that the median share of lift occurring after the campaign period increased to 29%.

The blog also cited a Motionworks analysis of a national AM/FM campaign for a tax preparation company. That study similarly found that markets receiving greater radio advertising weight produced stronger increases in visits to the advertiser's locations.

The Audio Active Group said the results demonstrate the role of AM/FM radio's broad audience reach in driving consumers to physical retail locations and suggest advertisers evaluating radio campaigns should consider both campaign weight and effects that may continue after the advertising ends.

Read the full Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog here.

BFOA Names First Scholarship Fund Recipients


Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA)
Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA)

The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) has named Nathaniel Bradley and Inoa Manfredy as the inaugural recipients of its Scholarship Fund, with each receiving $10,000 toward college tuition. The needs-based program was created to support students from broadcast families who are pursuing careers in broadcasting.

Bradley is a junior studying Sports Communications at Marquette University, while Manfredy is a junior at Boston University studying Communications and Political Science.

"This initiative reflects the BFOA's growing commitment to strengthening the future of the radio and television industries by investing directly in the next generation of broadcasters," said BFOA President Tim McCarthy. "We could not be happier with our first two recipients, both of whom received glowing recommendations from their professors."

McCarthy said Bradley and Manfredy represent the caliber of communications students the organization hopes to attract to careers in radio and television.

Bradley said his interest in sports journalism developed at an early age as he followed sportscasters and became fascinated by the stories of athletes, teams and organizations.

"I'm empowered by athletics and stories of personal sacrifice, perseverance and championships," said Bradley. "In my pursuit of journalism, I will continue to tell these stories."

Manfredy said her goal is to tell the stories of people whose voices otherwise might not be heard. "I was born to tell stories," she said. "To sit with a stranger, listen to their life, and give a voice to those who, for whatever reason, have not been heard."

To qualify for the BFOA Scholarship program, college students must be studying broadcasting, demonstrate financial need and maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.0.

SiriusXM Names Sean Gibbons Chief P&T Officer


Sean Gibbons
Sean Gibbons

SiriusXM has promoted Sean Gibbons to Senior Vice President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, overseeing product and technology operations across SiriusXM and Pandora.

Gibbons will report to SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz and join the company's Executive Leadership Team. His responsibilities include product strategy and development, technology platforms and engineering, automotive and streaming distribution partnerships and advertising technology.

"Sean has helped shape SiriusXM through some of our most important product and technology transformations, including the development and successful rollout of SiriusXM with 360L," said Witz. "He brings more than two decades of experience, deep knowledge of our business and a strong track record of bringing together teams, technology and partnerships to deliver for consumers."

Among Gibbons' priorities will be advancing SiriusXM with 360L and the company's next generation of in-car experiences, developing its long-term technology roadmap across satellite, broadcast and streaming platforms and applying artificial intelligence to personalization, discovery and customer service.

Gibbons said the company has an opportunity to combine the reach and reliability of satellite with streaming and AI to improve how listeners discover and interact with content.

"We can pair the reach and reliability of satellite with the flexibility of streaming and the intelligence of AI to make it easier for people to discover what they love, stay connected wherever they listen and participate more deeply in the content and moments that matter to them," he said.

Gibbons joined Sirius in 2000, before the company's first satellite launch, and has held leadership positions in product management, engineering, automotive, streaming, content technology and strategic partnerships.

During his tenure, he established SiriusXM's first formal Product Management organization and later founded and led its first Streaming organization, expanding the service across mobile, web and connected-home platforms.

Most recently, Gibbons led SiriusXM's Automotive organization, overseeing product, user experience, engineering and automotive partnerships as the company expanded its connected in-vehicle offerings and hybrid satellite and internet-based services.

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