Innholdsfortegnelse for November 10, 2025 i Radio Ink Magazine

Broadcasting's mission isn't the finish line; it's the journey. Today, that journey winds through territory that feels uncertain, and sometimes even divided. It's the pull of shifting audiences, the noise of misinformation, and the constant challenge of holding onto trust in a world where headlines flash and fade in seconds. Broadcasters feel that weight every day. Yet at the heart of it all lies our calling: the enduring responsibility to serve, to inform, and to inspire, no matter which way the winds of politics or opinion may blow. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy, but for those of us in radio, it's far more personal than that. It's a trust we hold carefully, one that goes far deeper than ratings or revenue. Every time we gather facts,…

LIBRARY OF AMERICAN BROADCASTING FOUNDATION The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving radio and television history through the Library of American Broadcasting archives at the University of Maryland. This world-class collection chronicles American communication from FDR's Fireside Chats and Edward R. Murrow's groundbreaking reporting to the moon landing and I Love Lucy. Contributions fund preservation and digitization projects that ensure historic recordings, photographs, and scripts remain accessible to scholars, journalists, and the public; educational initiatives that inspire students and media professionals to understand broadcasting's impact on democracy and culture; LABF Preservation Grants, newly launched to encourage individuals, broadcasters, and organizations to develop projects that make historic broadcast materials more available; and the annual Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Awards, which celebrate the legendary innovators…

As the FCC's quadrennial review signals potential changes to local radio ownership caps in 2026, will deregulation spark a wave of dealmaking? Or will financial headwinds and market realities temper expectations? We asked four leading media brokers to share their perspectives on what lies ahead. From strategic station swaps to the rise of religious broadcasters, their insights reveal an industry preparing for transformation, though not everyone agrees on what that will look like. If regulators loosen or eliminate local radio ownership caps in 2026, do you expect a flurry of station acquisitions and higher valuations? Bob Heymann, Managing Director, Media Services Group: Yes, though it's likely to be a targeted flurry rather than a gold rush as it was in the late ’90s. For years, broadcasters have been constrained by…

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff's re-election could be the most expensive Senate race of 2026 Competitive governor's race Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta have huge potential Potential runoffs could push spending into December Michigan Open contests for both Senate and Governor = statewide saturation Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing House races in MI-07 and MI-10 will further flood markets North Carolina Marquee Senate contest: former Governor Roy Cooper vs. former RNC Chair Michael Whatley High expectations for Raleigh and Greenville-New Bern House Race Impact About 40 districts in play Mid-market radio stations could see unprecedented political dollars Markets not usually on national radar will see heavy activity: Des Moines, Omaha, Portland ME, Scranton Source: Assembly, 2026 Election Outlook Report…

Before he became Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati, a teenage Gary Sandy was discovering radio firsthand up the road at WING in Dayton, Ohio. While still in high school, Gary stepped behind the mic in an early hint at the role that would put him in living rooms across America and inspire a generation of radio talent and programmers. This month, the Library of American Broadcasting is honoring Sandy as a Giant of Broadcasting for his contributions to the industry. GOT A GREAT RADIO PHOTO? Send it to ccoats@streamlinepublishing.com, and you may see it on this page!…

B2B: If you are in a business that sells to other businesses, tight targeting will be essential to your marketing. Features, benefits, pricing, delivery, and payment terms will be significant factors in your customer's decision-making process, so you will need to address these points using logic and structure. This is how business decisions are made. The good news is that you can easily identify the customers you need to target. Their addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses are available. Your sales representatives can call on these people. You can place ads in the appropriate trade magazines and websites to elevate your brand position. Niche Marketing: If you sell a specialty product that appeals to a special kind of customer, you will find social media to be a powerful ally. Danny…

Radio Takes Manhattan The Edison Ballroom's chandeliers had barely stopped swaying after the Marconi celebrations when radio's decision-makers and top performers decamped to Manhattan's Javits Center, where NAB Show New York was busy reinventing itself under a fresh logo for 2025, and, for the first time, Radio Ink's Radio Wayne Awards touched down in Gotham. At a time when the game can change in a New York minute, the message was unmistakable: radio's future won't be found by playing it safe. Celebrating This Year's Radio Wayne Winners: Digital Sales/Sales Manager of the Year: Greg Beran, Beasley Media Group, Philadelphia, PA Streetfighter of the Year: Oriana Groppetti, Momentum Broadcasting, Visalia-Tulare-Hanford, CA DOS/General Sales Manager, Markets 21+: Tiffany McCormack, Saga Communications, Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA DOS/General Sales Manager, Markets 1-20: Jeff Havis,…

Phase one of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's deregulatory push is over. Commissioner Anna Gomez's outspoken criticism of FCC “weaponization” continues. The agency's news distortion policy is suddenly back in the spotlight, raising First Amendment alarms across the industry. With D.C. setting the pace for broadcasters for much of 2025, Radio Ink consulted three prominent communications law experts to navigate these turbulent regulatory waters and decode what broadcasters should expect in the months ahead. After several months, we're still down two FCC commissioners. What are you hearing about or expecting when it comes to progress on that front in the near future? Given the GOP majority, does it even matter right now? Frank Montero, Partner, Fletcher Heald & Hildreth PLC: After the whole debacle with Commissioners Simington and Starks's abrupt departures,…

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Forecast is the most educational seminar I attend each year. From before sunrise to after sunset, it is one great speaker after another from both radio and television. This year, I have the privilege of completing a trilogy of interviews with one of Forecast 2026's marquee guests. Best known as a talent, Stephen A. Smith is so much more in reality. I've been honored to interview him at two previous media events, but this time will be very different. Our discussion will not be focused on his life and performance as a personality. It won't be a rehash of his rise from the ashes after being terminated from ESPN during the early days of his career. At Forecast 2026, it will be a conversation with Stephen A. Smith, the CEO…

What are your hobbies? Home studio engineering, listening to historic airchecks, programming my classic hits streaming station, “Back yard Flashback ” on Live 365. Who is/was your role model, and why? I have several. Vic Ratner, Ann Compton, Doug Limerick, Paul Harvey, and Peter Jennings at ABC. Mark Knoller, Peter Maer, and Bob Fuss at CBS. What are you reading right now? Radio Ink, of course! Book-wise, I recently finished a very instructive and sobering book by Brian Goldstone on the working homeless, regularly stymied as they try to break out of a cycle of poverty: There Is No Place for Us. What is your favorite movie? That's easy: Network. Paddy Chayefsky's masterpiece. Best screenplay ever written. What is your favorite TV show? I really enjoyed 30 Rock, but am…

With 2025 proving far more turbulent than expected, independent radio operators are eyeing 2026 forecasts with equal parts optimism and suspicion. One area many consider lost: national revenue. Greg Tacher, EVP of Radio Reps at Gen Media Partners, disagrees. Radio Ink sat down with Tacher to map out what independents (et al.) need to know about the national revenue horizon. Which battles are worth fighting? How does radio break down the door to political windfalls? And what investments are separating stations reaping national dollars from those left behind? Radio Ink: 2025 has been anything but predictable economically, but a few early forecasts are optimistic for the year ahead. How are you viewing 2026? Tacher: I think the main story in 2026 is going to be political spend. Inventories will become…

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