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News Radio Salaries Dropped 11.5% In Last 4 Years, RTDNA Study Shows

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Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, news radio salaries have seen a steady decline according to new data from the RTDNA.

According to the findings, salaries of the more than 600 news radio employees representing more than 1,900 stations dropped 0.5% in 2021, 6.6% in 2022, 1.9% in 2023, and 2.5% in 2024, totaling 11.5% in that period.

While the salaries have dropped around the industry, there are some bright spots. For News Directors, the median salary stayed flat during the four-year timeframe, but the average salary rose 6.7%. Meanwhile, the average salary for a news reporter dropped by less than 1%, but the median compensation rose by 12.5%. Producers also saw the median salary advance by a 10.4% increase, with the average salary rising 5%.

However, the roles of news anchor, sports anchor, and sports reporter all saw both their average and median salaries drop since 2021.

The new data posits that the drops in salary coincide with cost-cutting measures made by non-commercial stations, with salaries from that sector falling by 8%.

“Now we see more clearly what’s happening in radio salaries. Historically, non-commercial radio salaries have been substantially higher than commercial radio salaries. This year, that’s not the case,” the report co-authored for the RTDNA by Bob Papper and Keren Henderson said.

“When we look at large and major markets, all the average commercial salaries are higher than non-commercial salaries, and median salaries are fairly close.”

Newsmax Sees Highest Ratings in Network History During Republican National Convention

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The 2024 Republican National Convention proved to be a fruitful one for conservative cable network Newsmax, as it saw its highest ratings ever during the Milwaukee event.

In total, more than 10 million viewers tuned into the network throughout the four-day event. On average, Newsmax featured more than 3 million nightly viewers.

The network’s coverage from the Wisconsin city was led by Rob Schmitt and Greta Van Susteren, with analysis from Rick Santorum, Mark Halperin, Jenne Pellegrino, Rob Astorino, and Tom Basile, among others.

The week of July 15th was the number one prime-time ratings week in network history for Newsmax, moving it into seventh place in the overall cable landscape last week. The network saw its primetime ratings move it into the top five for all cable channels during the daypart.

During the Republican National Convention, the network featured a combined 2.6 million viewers in the adults 35-64 demographic over the four days.

“Newsmax continues to rise and rise and there’s no question we are now a major force in cable news,” Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy said of the ratings performance.

The uptick in ratings comes on the heels of the network seeing ratings gains through the first six months of 2024. During that time period, it saw a 36% increase in all-day viewing. In primetime, the network saw a 41% uptick compared to the previous year. 

Stugotz: ‘I Miss the High-Wire Act That Live Radio Provides for Me’

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Jon Weiner, aka Stugotz, was back on WFAN this morning filling in for Boomer Esiason with Gregg Giannotti during Boomer & Gio. Stugotz is filling in four days this week, the first time he has been on for an extended time since flirting with the station and the Brand Manager opening created when Spike Eskin left the station to move back home to Philadelphia.

Giannotti said he had watched a golf video Stugotz had shot about a year ago and brought up one of the things he said in the content. “You said in there that you missed the pressure of live radio,” Giannotti said. “Did you used to feel pressure when you guys were on live?”

“It’s not so much the pressure as it is the urgency, the excitement,” Stugotz said. “Because now, for the most part, we do two hours live every day on YouTube Live. And then we tape a couple hours after that and we deliver our episode every single day to largely a podcast audience, a digital audience. I miss the high-wire act that live radio provides for me, especially the type of show that me and Dan did. And doing it at ESPN where we were towing the line all the time.”

He went on to say a lot of it was about avoiding getting into trouble, but getting right up to that line without crossing it.

“What I miss is that kind of being on the high wire without a net and toeing the line and hoping you don’t say the wrong thing. Saying the right thing and it being exactly the right thing, but you didn’t go too far to get yourself in trouble. I just miss doing all that stuff live. I got into this to do live radio; I didn’t get into this to tape a couple of segments on Tuesday that we’re gonna air on Friday. You don’t get the same thing from the live YouTube aspect because, there’s no restrictions really with YouTube, whereas with ESPN you were kind of messing with people.”

Stugotz said some people, including his father, thought The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz was making a mistake by going from ESPN to YouTube and the other ways the content can be accessed. He said his father even asked him if he had the ability to access YouTube, not fully understanding how it all works.

The conversation then came back to the love Stugotz has for radio and his desire to do a show that runs similar to a sports talk radio show.

“There’s just something about doing live radio,” he said. “It makes me feel alive. There’s something about sticking the joke at the end of the segment and then you hear the bumper in your ear…I just miss it all. I love what we do, I really do, it just feels a bit disjointed. This has a flow to it.”

“You still have a passion for the platform,” Giannotti said to Stugotz. He replied, “I do. I love the platform…I got into this to do sports radio, but the entire industry has shifted and changed. It’s a digital world so our show had to adapt. And you give me a couple of shows a year here in July with nothing to talk about, which is what I prefer by the way, and that kind of fulfills me.”

Steve Darnell Named iHeartMedia Sacramento Metro President

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Steve Darnell has been named iHeartMedia Metro President for Sacramento. The move follows yesterday’s elevation of Sara McClure to VP of Unified Partnerships in California.

He previously served as Area President, where he was responsible for iHeart California clusters in Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Monterey, Riverside, and Spokane, WA.

Darnell said, “I’m excited for the opportunity to lead our Sacramento team and market-leading iconic station brands. Sacramento is a dynamic, thriving city, and I’m thankful that DJ Hodge, Hartley Atkins, and Rich Bressler have entrusted me with continuing our growth in this very important market.”

DJ Hodge, Division President, added, “After many years of successful leadership in our Pacific Area, it was clear early on that Steve was the perfect candidate to lead our Sacramento Market as Metro President. Steve is the ideal choice to continue the great work done by Sara McClure, who is moving into our Unified Partnerships Division.”

Midwest Communications Says Bye To JACK In Wausau, WI.

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Midwest Communications spins the format wheel in Wausau, WI, with WOZZ moving from JACK 94.7/102.9 to Rock “The Beast.”

The flip marks the return to rock after the station had flipped to JACK-FM in 2021. Before JACK-FM, the station was known as Rock 94.7

The station has launched jockless and is laying claim to core artists Foo Fighters, Five Finger Death Punch, Linkin Park, Metallica, and AC/DC.

“Scary Terry” Stevens will eventually move into the PM drive slot and will handle it from his base at the company’s Lansing, MI, clutter.

Mike Gallagher: Current News Cycle Makes Being a News/Talk Radio Host a 24/7 Job

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Usually, summer is a time for news/talk radio hosts to burn vacation days without worry of missing major stories. But the summer of 2024 has been anything but usual, which means Salem Radio Network host Mike Gallagher has to adjust while still finding time to recharge.

During The Mike Gallagher Show, the host shared that he is taking time off next week after spending the past several weeks working overtime after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, attending the Republican National Convention, and covering the decision of President Joe Biden to step away from his re-election campaign.

“I’m taking a few days but my gameplan when I take some vacation days in this crazy cycle we’re in, I will be ready to go back on the air. I couldn’t miss this show right now when things are breaking,” Gallagher said. “If you paid me triple, I could not miss this show. I feel an obligation and a heavy responsibility, and I love it. I love getting to spend time with people all over America.

“So yes, I’ll be off for a few days. Joey Hudson is going to guest host but I will be by a studio. And if something big happens, I’m coming back on the air.”

He shared that this exact situation played out in April 2023 during an overseas vacation.

“I went to London on a vacation and they fired Tucker Carlson. I said, ‘I gotta go on the air. Find me a studio, please.’ I’m not going to miss big stories. I can’t. I would be letting you down. So don’t worry,” Gallagher said.

“I’m going to take a breather because it’s a lot. It’s a lot. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. Nobody has to shed any tears for me. I have a good life and I have a great job. But this is becoming 24/7. I’m on the internet at midnight. I am looking at stuff, I’m posting stuff on X around the clock,” he admitted. “We spent hours Sunday on Salem News Channel covering Biden’s stepping out of the race. Last week, we went on the air for hours covering the Trump assassination attempt. So a little break is healthy. Nothing wrong with that.”

Pillar Media Goes With the ‘FLO’ in Denver

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Pillar Media has returned to a familiar brand in Denver. Christian Hip Hop KFCO is once again “FLO 107.1.” This marks the fourth time this branding has resided on this frequency in the past decade.

The station was forced to drop “Kingdom 107.1” when trademark infringement was claimed. They first launched the “FLO” brand in 2015 under the previous owner, Max Media.

The branding has not been exclusive to the Christian format; it has existed in station iterations as Rhythmic Top 40 and Top 40.

Senen “Slim” Rodriquez anchors mornings, and “Tony V” Valdez hosts afternoons.

Howard Eskin Expected to Return to 94WIP This Weekend

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Several reports out of Philadelphia say Howard Eskin will return to 94WIP this weekend after having been absent from the station since late June. A July 1 news story revealed Eskin had been banned from both Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies play, and from the Sixers’ practice facility after an investigation found he made an unwanted advance toward a female Aramark employee in May at a Phillies game.

According to reports, Eskin was at the opening of Eagles training camp yesterday. He is part of the Eagles Radio Network broadcasts and serves as a team insider for WIP. Eskin, 73, has not addressed the matter publicly.

It had been previously reported Eskin had a preplanned vacation the first week he missed, and the following weekend was the final show for Glen Macnow who retired after 31 years. BSM reached out to Audacy but was not given a reason for Eskin’s absence this past last Saturday.

An Eagles spokesperson told the Philly Voice that Audacy requested access for Eskin, and team granted their request. Audacy officials have said they conducted an investigation into the incident at Citizens Bank Park and addressed the matter internally.

Sara McClure Upped To iHeartMedia VP Of Unified Partnerships

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Sara McClure has been promoted to VP of Unified Partnerships for iHeartMedia in California. She previously served as Market President for the company’s Sacramento cluster, joining in 2015.

iHeartMedia President of Unified Partnerships Michael Preacher said, “I am extremely excited to have Sara join our division. She will be broadening her responsibilities and offering her incredible expertise to leading agency partners throughout California.”

According to iHeart, the Unified Partnership division “provides ad agencies with comprehensive media resources, subject matter expertise, and superior advertising results for brands and government campaigns.”

Her duties will include “helping agencies win new advertising clients, retention of their most important relationships, and the ability to earn greater yield.”

McClure said, “I look forward to advancing my career by joining the Unified Partnership division. This incredible team has unlimited possibilities and I’m excited to bring my scope of marketing and big idea thinking to our partners.”

Brian Kilmeade: ‘I’m Not Going to Back Off Anything I Say’ After Pushback Over Kamala Harris Comments

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On Wednesday, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade was the center of a media firestorm after some observers believed he used racially charged language to describe an event Vice President Kamala Harris was attending. Thursday, Kilmeade addressed the controversy.

After being accused by Eugene Daniels — a POLITICO reporter and President of the White House Correspondents Association — of saying Kamala Harris was skipping the Congressional address of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the national convention for a historically Black sorority.

In describing the event, Kilmeade said the Vice President would rather address “a sorority, a college sorority.” However, some claimed that the FOX & Friends host said “colored” sorority, including Daniels.

He later walked back his claims after the insistence by Fox News, Brian Kilmeade, and Lawrence Jones — who was on set as the incident took place — that the host said “college.”

Early Thursday, Kilmeade addressed the situation, defending himself from the accusations before stating he isn’t going to back down from his opinions.

 “This ends up being this big thing … They corrected it, but it didn’t stop for four or five hours. People like Jamie Harrison — head of the (Democratic National Committee) — calling me a clown, making racial, accusations. People across the country just see the headline and start throwing things, things out. It disparages me, disparages this company,” said Kilmeade.

“It’s a learned moment for everyone on the couch, everyone watching,” Kilmeade continued. “From now on, things have changed. Are they looking to label anyone any time a racist, sexist, misogynist? I’m not going to back off anything I say. I think it was a huge mistake of going to a college sorority instead of the Prime Minister’s address, and I’m not going to apologize for it. But people who are in the media should be responsible when they report things.”