News Audio

Cumulus Radio Threatens Termination of Hosts Over Election Fraud Claims

The memo comes after both chambers of Congress met Jan. 6 to certify the Electoral College votes cast and on the heels of a mob of people breaching security at the U.S. Capitol and illegally entering both the House and Senate, as well as ransacking congressional offices.

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2021

BNM Staff

Cumulus apparently has drawn a line in the sand with its pool of conservative commentators.

With Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris set to be sworn in as the next president and vice president of the United States on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump and his allies have seemingly exhausted all possible avenues to get the results of the 2020 presidential election reversed. But even up to now, that hasn’t stopped many from across conservative media from echoing the thoughts of President Trump and claiming the election was rigged and stolen.

In an article published by the Washington Post on Monday, one Cumulus executive is trying to nip that line of thinking in the bud.

According to the Post, Brian Philips, executive vice president of content for Cumulus, issued an internal memo saying Cumulus and Westwood One would not tolerate further claims that President Trump has some sort of path to a second term in the White House. And that, “If you transgress this policy, you can expect to separate from the company immediately.”

The Post article mentions the names of a few popular conservative personalities claiming to be employees of Cumulus or Westwood One. In particular, Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin.

Jeremy Boreing, who co-founded The Daily Wire with Shapiro and is an executive producer of The Ben Shapiro Show, made it clear the memo won’t apply to Shapiro.

Cumulus is not Ben's employer and hasn't told Ben jack shit about what he can or cannot say on air.

Also, Ben never said the election was stolen.

That's at least three falsehoods in 280 characters or less, but pretty good journalisming otherwise. https://t.co/5h0VASqfHZ
— Jeremy Boreing (@JeremyDBoreing) January 11, 2021

Levin told media watchdog NewsBusters, “I never received that memo, and my crew never received that memo. This story is done by a reporter who has never spoken to me – ever.” He added if he did in fact receive that memo “I would make sure the entire nation would hear about it.” He added “I would like a correction and an apology from the Post, but I won’t hold my breath.”

There’s been no word at least by hosts employed by Cumulus at the local level who have spoken out about the memo.

BNM Staff

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News Audio

Bob Pittman: iHeartMedia Won’t Be Shutting Down Broadcast Stations

“90% of Americans listen to iHeart broadcast radio stations every month. To put that in context, the biggest TV network reaches less than 40% of Americans and the big streaming music services reach less than 30%.”

Published

1 day ago

June 2, 2023

BNM Staff

Very few large broadcasting corporations adopted digital platforms as quickly as iHeartMedia did. iHeartRadio is one of the most popular platforms for streaming content from a variety off stations. Bob Pittman says that does not mean the company does not see plenty of value in traditional broadcast radio.

Lydia Moynihan of The New York Post spoke with the iHeartMedia CEO Friday morning. She asked Pittman if he could foresee a day when the company would be done with terrestrial radio and focus solely on digital products.

“To the contrary – the strength and foundation of our company is our broadcast radio stations,” Pittman responded. “90% of Americans listen to iHeart broadcast radio stations every month. To put that in context, the biggest TV network reaches less than 40% of Americans and the big streaming music services reach less than 30%.”

He added that any success that the company has seen with podcasting or streaming is clearly linked to the success of the its radio stations. He said that is true for its live events too.

“We use that massive and unique reach of our broadcast radio to build complementary products like the iHeartRadio digital service and our major events like the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the iHeartRadio Music Awards and the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, and it’s why we’re the #1 podcast publisher by a lot. It all starts with using the trusted voices on our broadcast radio stations and creating demand – and with our unparalleled reach we have quite an advantage over the other audio players, regardless of their cash war chests.”

BNM Staff

News Audio

Buffalo, Chicago, Milwaukee Top Markets for AM Radio

“The study shows thirteen markets that have at least 40% of listeners using AM radio. Ten of them are in the Midwest.”

Published

1 day ago

June 2, 2023

BNM Staff

Nielsen has looked at information from the 2022 fall book to determine where AM radio is the most popular. The company released a list Thursday of 141 markets where at least 20% of radio listeners tune to AM radio in a given month. Cities in the Great Lakes region are all at the top of the list.

In Buffalo, 56% of radio listeners use the AM band in a month. The market’s most-listened to stations are both AM stations owned by Audacy – news/talk WBEN and sports talker WGR. Neither has an FM simulcast.

There is a tie for second place. 48% of listeners in Chicago utilize AM. Popular news stations WGN and WLS are both only available on AM as is the market’s heritage sports talk brand, 670 The Score. Milwaukee is the other market with 48% of listeners using AM radio.

AM radio remains very popular in the Midwest. The study shows thirteen markets that have at least 40% of listeners using AM radio. Ten of them are in the Midwest.

Last month, Nielsen used numbers from the 2022 Fall book to show that across the country, more than 82 million people rely on AM radio during a month. That is a third of all terrestrial radio listeners.

A hearing on Sen. Ed Markey’s AM For Every Vehicle Act is scheduled for Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

BNM Staff

News Audio

Fox News Radio Reportedly Facing Cutbacks

“Freelance shifts still exist on the network and current freelancers have been offered other opportunities over the weekend. Staff employees were not impacted.”

Published

1 day ago

June 2, 2023

BNM Staff

According to All Access, Fox News Radio is tightening the belt a bit. Job cuts and staff reassignments are on the way.

Most of the effected positions are filled by freelancers. Reporters and fill-in hosts could be effected.

“Fox News Audio has reduced the number of freelance shifts and adjusted its workflow on weekends,” a source told Perry Michael Simon. “Freelance shifts still exist on the network and current freelancers have been offered other opportunities over the weekend. Staff employees were not impacted.”

One full-time staffer has confirmed that he is out. News anchor Kerin McCue had been with Fox News Radio since 2012. He told All Access that he will exit some time this month. The report does not say if that is the result of these cutbacks or McCue’s own decision.

The network does have a lower-cost plan for the weekend. Some repurposed content from SiriusXM’s Fox News Headlines 24/7 will fill newscast slots.

BNM Staff