For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Pending Business: Yellow Lights Ahead. Radio sales pro Steve Lapa writes in today’s column that predictions for this year’s holiday season are that consumers will be cautious and not spend as much as in recent seasons due to economic uncertainty. At the same time, retailers are less focused on creative marketing and are targeting consumers shopping based solely on the best price. With that in mind, Lapa offers some suggestions for radio sellers in this “yellow-light” economy. Read it here.

Monday Memo: Yes, Oldies. With many FMs already in all-Christmas mode, consultant Holland Cooke frets that “you’d think the Beach Boys only had one hit.” In this week’s column, HC notes how TV commercials and movies “continue to demonstrate the appeal of 60s and 70s music that AM/FM radio has relinquished to satellite radio and streams.” Read more here.

iHeartMedia Names Manny Munoz Midday Co-Host on News/Talk WIOD. Station personality Manny Munoz is named as co-host of the 10:00 am to 12:00 noon show on iHeartMedia’s WIOD-AM, “NewsRadio 610 AM,” effective January 9, 2023. In this role, Munoz will be responsible for producing and hosting WIOD’s new program. iHeartMedia

says, “The show will focus on day-to-day life in South Florida and discuss the biggest news stories of the day, politics, current events and pop culture in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. A nationwide search is underway for a part-time midday co-host for Munoz.” Munoz takes over for Brian Mudd, who will continue as morning host and program director at WJNO-AM, in West Palm Beach “NewsRadio 1290.” Munoz has been with “NewsRadio 610 WIOD” for over two decades. He has served as executive producer, fill-in host, sports reporter, and side kick for “South Florida’s First News with Jimmy Cefalo” for the past 14 years. Munoz also contributes to programming on WINZ-AM “FOX Sports 940.” iHeartMedia Miami vice president of news and AM programming Grace Blazer says, “I’m excited for Manny to excel with this new midday opportunity. The search is on for the perfect partner who will complement Manny and provide great live and local content with a digital finesse for our South Florida audience.” Munoz says, “Born in Hialeah, raised in Kendall and living in Southwest Broward for the last 27 years, I’m excited for the opportunity to have a show focused on the issues that affect South Floridians on a daily basis. I can’t wait to meet my new partner so we can inform, entertain, and bring a smile to WIOD’s loyal listeners and invite new ears to join the show, too.”

Leo Laporte to Retire from The Tech Guy Program; Rich DeMuro to Transition as New Program Host. The host of the Premiere Networks-syndicated show “The Tech Guy” – Leo Laporte – announced to his audience on Saturday (11/19), that he is retiring from radio at the end of the year. His last show will be January 1, 2023. As part of his

announcement, Laporte introduced his replacement: Emmy Award-winning television personality and podcaster Rich DeMuro, host of the popular “Rich On Tech” segment on KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles and the weekly podcast of the same name. DeMuro, who has guest hosted for Laporte on numerous occasions, will be integrated into “The Tech Guy” through the end of the year, which will lead into the launch of “Rich On Tech,” a new three-hour weekend radio program debuting Saturday, January 7, 2023. Laporte says, “After 46 years in radio, 19 of them as ‘The Tech Guy,’ I thought it would be nice to see what Sunday brunch is like. Fortunately, I won’t be leaving our audience in the lurch. Rich is the perfect guy to help people get the most out of technology. I’ll raise a mimosa in your honor, Rich.” Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott says, “Leo has been a trusted source of tech news and information for listeners across the country, and we’ve enjoyed a successful partnership with him for more than 15 years. We wish him all the best!  We also look forward to this new and exciting chapter with Rich DeMuro, who has built a loyal following across TV, audio and social media. We’re confident audiences will enjoy his smart and fresh take on the world of technology.”

FOX News Digital Tops Competition in Multiplatform Minutes and Views for October. Based on data from Comscore’s October ratings, FOX News Digital finished the month as the top-performing news organization in the competitive set in both

multiplatform minutes and multiplatform views. FOX News Digital says that this marks 20 straight months as the number one news brand with multiplatform minutes. Looking at its performance versus CNN.com and NYTimes.com, FOX News Digital achieved more than 2.5 billion total multiplatform minutes compared to CNN.com’s 2.27 billion multiplatform minutes and NYTimes.com’s 1.3 billion multiplatform minutes. Looking at multiplatform views, FOX News Digital earned 1.5 billion compared to CNN.com’s 1.3 billion and NYTimes.com’s 1.28 billion. However, when it comes to multiplatform unique visitors (digital’s version of cume), CNN.com was the leader by a long shot with 111.8 million compared to NYTimes.com’s 80.8 million and FOX News Digital’s 80.1 million.

TALKERS News Notes. Columbus sports talk outlet WBNS-AM/FM recently celebrated its 100^th year of service to the market. The stations – which are the flagship for Ohio

State Buckeyes sports – are owned by Tegna. WBNS-AM was put on the air by the Wolfe family in 1922 and the calls stand for “Wolfe Banks News and Shoes” to promote the family’s various businesses. The Columbus Dispatch has a big piece on the anniversary and the stations’ history here…..FOX News Audio debuts season three of its FOX News Rewind series beginning today (11/21) with a six-part series focused on the financial crisis of 2008. Titled, “FOX News Rewind: Financial Crisis ‘08,” the podcast features financial experts who worked through the crisis, looking back on what transpired including Lehman Brothers bankruptcy examiner Anton Valukas, former governor of the Federal Reserve Randall Krozner, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Sheila Bair, among others. FOX Business Network host Charles Payne will front the podcast, while FOX News Media personalities including chief political anchor Bret Baier, SVP, anchor and managing editor of business news Neil Cavuto, “The Claman Countdown” anchor Liz Claman, “America Reports” co-anchor Sandra Smith and senior Congressional correspondent Chad Pergram will detail the ways the financial collapse was handled…..Boston public media firm GBH announces that Susan Goldberg is being named the next president and CEO of GBH. She is the first woman to hold this role since GBH was founded in 1951. From 2014 to 2022, Goldberg was editor-in-chief at National Geographic, taking on the additional role of editorial director in 2015. GBH board of trustees chair Ann Fudge says, “At a time when the media industry is changing at a rapid pace, Susan is a direct, focused, empathetic, and visionary leader who has the operational and editorial savvy to understand what resonates with our audiences, along with deep experience in executing a multi-platform transformation. She shares the core values of our organization – passionate about trusted journalism and its role in a free society, committed to building a diverse, people-driven organization, and an understanding of GBH’s role in the community. We are thrilled to welcome Susan to GBH.”

Trump in ’24, Special Counsel Appointed, Twitter, Midterms Aftermath, Deadly Colorado Shooting, Russia-Ukraine War, and the World Cup Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. Former President Donald Trump’s announcement that he’s running for president in 2024; Attorney General Merrick Garland appoints Jack Smith special counsel to handle investigation of Donald Trump; Elon Musk opens the way for Trump to return to Twitter combined with the social media platform’s rapidly changing structure under Musk’s ownership; the politics surrounding the results of the midterm elections; the shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs that left four dead and many more wounded; Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine; and the World Cup begins in Qatar were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

The Radio Sales Arena is Changing and We Are On the Leading Edge. The key to sales growth in radio going forward is multi-platform digital marketing. In the coming decade, “radio” will simply be the engine driving an increasingly complex and sophisticated array of digitally powered platforms creating endless packages and options for the

advertiser. The keys to success will be in branding that cuts through the noise and surgical targeting that delivers optimum efficiency for agencies that know exactly what they want. The Salem Media Group is leading the way and the opportunities for our sales team are endless. But, right now, we need that special individual who has the tools, the vision and the ambition to get it done. That one special person who truly “gets it.” Jerry Crowley, the longest-running GM in the nation’s largest market, says, “We want one outstanding seller who can take it to the moon! Compensation will reflect potential and performance – salary will range from 50k- 85k plus substantial bonuses and generous commissions.” Candidates should send cover letter and resume to Jerry Crowley, VP/GM, Salem Media Group, NY (WMCA 570am The Mission/WNYM 970am The Answer) at Jcrowley@nycradio.com.

Salem Media New York Seeks Production Director. News/talk “AM 970 The Answer” WNYM and Christian Teach & Talk “AM 570 & 102.3 FM The Mission” WMCA is seeking its next full-time production director. Candidates must be experienced and willing to work in our studios in Lower Manhattan, NYC. Interested candidates can apply directly on our corporate website here.

Tags: AM/FM radio, Brian Mudd, CNN.com, comScore, consultant, consumers, creative marketing, FMs, FOX News Digital, Grace Blazer, holiday season, Holland Cooke, iHeartMedia, Jimmy Cefalo, Julie Talbott, KTLA-TV, Leo Laporte, Manny Munoz, Miami, Monday Memo, news/talk, news/talk radio, NewsRadio 1290, NYTimes.com, oldies, Pending Business, Premiere Networks, radio sales, radio sellers, retailers, Rich DeMuro, Rich On Tech, satellite radio, South Florida, Steve Lapa, streams, Talkers Magazine, Tegna, The Tech Guy, TV commercials, WBNS-AM/FM, West Palm Beach, WINZ-AM, WIOD, WJNO-AM, Wolfe family

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