For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Salem Media Group First Quarter Revenue Rises 5.5%. Reporting financial data for the first quarter of 2022, Salem Media Group says total revenue was $62.6 million, an increase of 5.5% over the same period in 2021. Operating income was $5 million, up

14.2% from the same period a year ago. Salem posted net income of $1.7 million in Q1 of this year compared to the net income of $0.3 million reported for the same quarter in 2021. Breaking down the company’s data by segment, net broadcast revenue increased 10% to $48.4 million from $44 million in 2021, while digital media revenue increased 7.1% to $10.3 million from $9.6 million, and publishing revenue decreased 31.8% to $3.9 million from $5.7 million. Looking ahead, Salem Media Group says that for the second quarter of 2022, it is projecting total revenue to increase between 6% and 8% from second quarter 2021 total revenue of $63.8 million.

FANTASTIC SPEAKER LINEUP AND AGENDA for TALKERS 2022. TALKERS is presenting the 25^th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest-running, largest and most important convention, TALKERS 2022, on Friday, June 10, 2022 on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York in association with the prestigious university’s multi-award-winning station WRHU Radio.

TALKERS 2022 will be a “who’s who” of the talk media industry…

Red Apple Media CEO/WABC, New York owner John Catsimatidis is set to keynote with special guest addresses to be provided by iconic Key Networks personality Bill O’ Reilly and FOX News Radio/FOX News Channel star Brian Kilmeade.
INCREDIBLE LINEUP: Speakers already booked with more to be announced (in alphabetical order): Dr. Asa Andrew, CEO/Host, The Dr. Asa Network (“Believe”); Bruce Avery, GM, WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University; Mike “Bax” Baxendale, Host, WAQY-FM (Rock 102), Springfield, MA; Marc Beaven, GM, WCBM, Baltimore; Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media; David Bernstein, GM Broadcast Operations, TALKERS; Michael Berry, Host, The Michael Berry Show (syndicated)/KTRH, Houston (local); Grace Blazer, VP, National NTS Brand Coordinator, Director of News and AM Programming Florida Region, iHeartMedia Miami; Phil Boyce, SVP/Spoken Word Format, Salem Media Group, Salem Radio Network/Operations VP, New York Region; Bill Brady, Owner/Host, KFNX, Phoenix; John Caracciolo, President/CEO, JVC Broadcasting; John Catsimatidis, CEO, Red Apple Media/owner, WABC, New York; Kevin Casey, VP/executive editor, TALKERS; Heather Cohen, SVP, The Weiss Agency; Mandy Connell, Host, KOA, Denver; Michael Czarnecki, Director of Brand Operations, Binnie Media; Amy Daniels, PD, myTalk 107.1, Minneapolis-St. Paul; Kevin DeLany, VP, News & Talk Programming, Westwood One; Jimmy Failla, Host, FOX News Radio; Erica Farber, President/CEO, Radio Advertising Bureau; Alex Fife, VP Operations, Southeast, iHeartMedia – Total Traffic & Weather Network; Mike Gallagher, Host, Salem Radio Network; Dom Giordano, Host, WPHT, Philadelphia; Paul Gleiser, Owner/Host, KTBB, Tyler, TX; Lee Habeeb, Host/Producer, Our American Stories; Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS; Erik Hellum, Chief Operating Officer, Townsquare Media, New York/RAB; Dottie Herman, Vice Chair, Douglas Elliman Real Estate/Host, Eye on Real Estate, WNYM (AM 970 The Answer), New York; Harry Hurley, Host, WPG, Atlantic City; Victoria Jones, executive director, DC Radio Company; Jeff Katz, Host, WRVA, Richmond; Brian Kilmeade, Host, FOX News Radio/FOX News Channel; Kraig Kitchin, President, Sound Mind, LLC; Josh Leng, CEO, Talk Media Network; Chad Lopez, President, Red Apple Media; Mike McVay, President, McVay Media Consultants; Frank Morano, Host, WABC, New York: John T. Mullen, OM, WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University; Chris Oliviero, Market President/GM New York, Audacy, Inc.; Bill O’ Reilly, Host/Commentator, Key Networks; Sid Rosenberg, Host, WABC, New York; Rob Schmitt, Host, Newsmax TV; Buck Sexton, Co-Host, The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Premiere Networks; Todd Starnes, Owner, KWAM, Memphis/Host, The Todd Starnes Show; Doug Stephan, Host, DJV Show/CEO, Stephan Multimedia; Walter Sterling, Host, Sterling On Sunday; Greg Stocker, PD, WPHT, Philadelphia; Julie Talbott, President, Premiere Networks; Joe Thomas, PD/Host, WCHV, Charlottesville, VA; Christine Travaglini, President, Katz Radio Group, New York/RAB; Paul Vandenburg, Owner/Host, WGDJ, Albany, NY; Dr. Daliah Wachs, Physician/Host, Genesis Communications Network; Lisa Wexler, Host WICC, Bridgeport/Probate Judge, Connecticut; Brett Winterble, Host, WBT, Charlotte; Larry Young, Host, WOLB, Baltimore; Rich Zeoli, Host, WPHT, Philadelphia; Martha Zoller, Host, WDUN, Gainesville, GA; and Michael Zwerling, Owner, KSCO, Santa Cruz, CA (more to be announced).

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison says, “We are delighted to be able to join forces again with our colleagues at Hofstra – the site of our very successful 2021 and 2016 events – and enjoy the remarkable resources that its Lawrence Herbert School of Communication brings to the table.”

As was the case last year, this event will be held in a COVID-19 compliant environment based upon the circumstances at the time of the convention. As is its tradition, TALKERS 2022 will boldly address key issues – some existential – facing the talk radio and talk media industries at this dramatically critical juncture of rapidly accelerating technological and societal change as well as identifying the remarkable opportunities inherent in these developments. It will also provide participants with unique and powerful networking opportunities. Attendance at the conference is limited to members of the working media and directly associated industries as well as students enrolled in accredited learning institutions. All attendees will be required to register in advance on the phone with credit cards. Attendance will be limited, and the conference is again expected to be an early sellout. Full details about the agenda (more than 50 in-person, luminary speakers) sponsorship opportunities and hotel information will continue to be posted in TALKERS in the days ahead. The all-inclusive registration fee covering convention events, exhibits, food, and services for the day is $349. Because space will be limited and a sellout is anticipated, all registrations are non-refundable.

To register or to obtain sponsorship information, call Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413.

Travel and Hotel Information for TALKERS 2022. The full-service Long Island Marriott Uniondale is serving as the closest and best hotel for TALKERS 2022. To reserve rooms, please click here. All New York area airports are a car ride away from the hotel and Hofstra: JFK (18 miles), LaGuardia (24 miles), MacArthur (34 miles), Newark (47 miles). Free and convenient parking information at Hofstra will be posted here shortly.

The Vastness of Night. “The two most effective, engaging forms of advertising are in-theatre and overnight radio,” says Walter Sterling. “Surrounded by darkness without distractions, the audience choses to receive the advertising message in the comfort of a bed, perfectly adjusted car seat, or reclining throne. Overnight radio is 25% of the broadcast day. Twenty-five percent. A locally hosted all-night show in a major city is a gift to listeners and advertisers.” You say you can’t afford an all-night talk radio host? Read more of what Walter Sterling has to say here.

Edison Research Q1 Top 50 Podcasts Chart; Controversy Has Not Hurt Joe Rogan. The Edison Podcast Metrics chart of the top 50 podcasts in the U.S. for the first quarter of 2022 has been released and the controversy surrounding Spotify’s “The Joe Rogan Experience” in 2021 has not harmed listening; in fact, it appears to have helped it.

Edison Research director of research Gabriel Soto says, “Despite a turbulent and controversial ride for Joe Rogan at the beginning of the quarter, his show not only remains the most popular in the U.S., but it has increased in listenership – distancing itself from the number two spot.” This chart by Edison ranks the 50 biggest podcasts by audience size, based on Edison Podcast Metrics (formerly known as the Podcast Consumer Tracking Report). Edison says its list is “the only podcast measurement service that measures the relative audience size and demographics of all podcast networks in the U.S. and measures based on actual podcast listening, not downloads, and does not require an opt-in from podcast networks. Some of the other podcasts making the chart connected to radio-oriented companies include: #6 “Stuff You Should Know” (iHeartPodcasts), #9 “The Ben Shapiro Show” (The Daily Wire), #18 “The Dan Bongino Show” (Cumulus Podcast Network), #31 “The Dave Ramsey Show” (The Ramsey Network), and #39 “The Mark Levin Show” (Cumulus Podcast Network).

TALKERS News Notes. According to data from Nielsen, Newsmax’s live coverage of former President Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally pushed the network ahead of CNN

in audience viewership on Friday night (5/6). Newsmax says that it pulled 738,000 total viewers between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm ET, with an evening prime-time average of 579,000 viewers. CNN peaked at 645,000 viewers during Anderson Cooper’s show, drawing an average audience of 545,000 on Friday night. Newsmax adds that for the past year, is has consistently held the position as the fourth-highest-rated cable news channel in the U.S. and a top-20 cable channel in daytime, according to Nielsen…..The Independent Broadcasters Association says it is delivering on its promise to provide an efficient way for members to share local talent in which all talent made available to members by members will be on a very affordable cash basis, eliminating the need for costly barter deals. IBA executive director Ron Stone comments, “One of the most costly expenditures for independent radio is paying for syndication, whether by cash, barter, or a combination thereof. Our goal is to provide our IBA members with an opportunity to choose cost-effective talent from other IBA members and eliminate the need to give local inventory to large networks that sell to the very clients we used to do business with nationally, and at far better prices than network pricing. This, I believe, is a huge opportunity to get back inventory used against us at extremely low prices.”

The Economy, Russia-Ukraine War, Mark Esper Book, Midterms/Trump & the GOP, Roe v Wade, Musk & Twitter, COVID-19, and Western Drought Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (5/10). The state of the U.S. economy, the high cost of food and gasoline, and concerns about a recession; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rumors of Vladimir Putin’s poor health, and the U.S. House approves aid to Ukraine; former Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s book,  A Sacred Oath, that paints former President Donald Trump in an unflattering light; the Trump-approved primary candidates for the November midterms and Trump’s influence over the GOP; the protests over the leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade; the controversial attempt by Elon Musk to acquire Twitter; the rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., concerns about new variants, and the Chinese zero-COVID policy; and the drought affecting the U.S. West were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

FOX News Media Seeks Freelance Radio Anchor. This is a New York or Washington, DC-based position. FOX News is looking for a freelance radio anchor to join the FOX News Audio family as on-air talent for FOX News Radio Network/FOX News Headlines 24/7 Sirius XM Channel 115. As the freelance radio anchor, you will work under tight deadlines and deliver top-notch newscasts. You have a passion for breaking news and the flexibility to work on a day’s notice. Find out more and apply here.

FOX News Media Has Opportunity for Freelance Producer/Editor. This New York-based position is a freelance producer/news editor role in which you will supervise the staff for network radio news operations (terrestrial and FOX News Headlines 24/7 – Channel 115 on SiriusXM Radio). As the freelance producer/news editor you are our editorial leader, working with news anchors to craft the content and structure of a 24/7 news operation. This is fast-moving news environment! Your ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven newsroom allows you to deliver top-quality segments/newscasts. You excel at multi-tasking and pay close attention to details. Your writing and editing skills are excellent and your editorial judgment is first-rate. Find out more and apply here.

Podcast Producer Position Open at FOX News Media. FOX News Audio is looking for a producer for The Will Cain Podcast to be part of the fast-paced and growing FOX News Podcast Network. The producer for The Will Cain Podcast will develop ideas, pitch stories, and work with FOX News Channel talent in crafting daily and weekly podcasts. The producer will also direct bookings, edit shows, and work with production teams to create high-quality content every day. In addition to their production duties, they will also lead creative on social media posts and website write-ups to promote the product. This is a New York, Washington, or Nashville-based position. Find out more and apply here.

Tags: CNN, Edison Podcast Metrics, Edison Research, financial data, first quarter, net income, news/talk radio, Newsmax, Nielsen, operating income, Ron Stone, Salem Media Group, Talkers Magazine, The Ben Shapiro Show, The Dan Bongino Show, The Dave Ramsey Show, The Independent Broadcasters Association, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Mark Levin Show, total revenue

Category: Front Page News, Industry News