Radio’s 2026 Midterm Playbook: Down-Ballot, Data, and Homework
It's a common sentiment that radio never gets its fair share of political advertising, but with 2026 political ad volume projected to grow roughly 20% over the 2022 midterm cycle, and nearly all of that money placed locally, AM/FM can still cash in on the season.
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K-Bear, K-Whale Raise $101K for St. Jude in Anchorage
Connoisseur Media's Anchorage rock and country stations teamed up for their annual St. Jude Children's Research Hospital radiothon last week, raising more than $101,000 over two days through on-air storytelling, talent-driven appeals, and listener interaction.
Commonwealth Gives South Central Kentucky A Station With Zing
Commonwealth Broadcasting's latest radio offering for South Central Kentucky kicked off with a zing. Zing! 106.7 (WHHT-HD3) signed on in Glasgow on March 31, launching an Adult Contemporary format built around familiar feel-good pop hits for the region.
The Conclave at 50: Virtual Toast Previews Final Conference
Fifty years after a small group of radio programmers gathered in the Upper Midwest, The Conclave is commemorating the milestone with a virtual toast on April 17 ahead of the event's final return to in-person programming this fall in Minneapolis.
HRC 2026 Session To Plot Digital Future for Hispanic Radio
As online audio monthly listening hits an all-time high among US listeners, Radio Ink's Hispanic Radio Conference 2026 will tackle digital platform strategy for stations, with practitioners covering content, distribution, and measurement for multicultural audiences.
Broadcasters Foundation Plots Four-City Media Mixer Run for 2026
What began as a single New York City networking night in 2023 has grown into a coast-to-coast tour. The Broadcasters Foundation of America has given a first look at its 2026 Media Mixer series with a Los Angeles stop on April 23 at the Fox Studio Lot.
13 Ways Solo Morning Hosts Can Sound Like a Team
(Randy Lane) We coach a successful, long-running morning show that’s transitioning from two hosts to one. That raises an important question: How do you maintain a team's energy and dynamics when there’s only one voice?
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RAB Extends 2026 Radio Mercury Awards Entry Deadline
The Radio Mercury Awards has given audio creatives a few extra days to make their case. The call for entries for the 2026 competition has been extended to April 17, giving radio pros and students additional time to submit work across 17 categories plus Best of Show.
Licata Takes CEO Role at iHeart’s Multiplatform Group
iHeartMedia has elevated Ann Marie Licata to lead its largest operating segment. Licata has been named CEO of iHeart's Multiplatform Group, which encompasses the company's 860-plus local broadcast radio stations Premiere Networks, TTWN, and data targeting products.
Public Media Bridge Fund Shifts From Crisis to Collaboration
Six months after rushing out emergency grants to keep public radio stations on the air, the Public Media Bridge Fund is shifting its focus from triage to transformation. Its first open call invites public media organizations to apply for support on collaboration projects.
Zach Goodman Headed for Home With Rockies Radio Network
For Zach Goodman, calling Colorado Rockies games on iHeartMedia Denver's KOA 850AM isn't just a career milestone; it's a family affair. The Colorado native joins the Rockies Radio Network, following in the footsteps of his father, longtime Rockies TV voice Drew Goodman.
Kalil & Co.’s Hartman, NBCUniversal’s Staab Join NABLF Board
One is Executive Vice President of media brokerage firm Kalil & Co., the other is the Chairman of NBCUniversal Local. Both are now members of the National Association of Broadcasting Leadership Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Lisa Varner Rises to GM at Saga’s Ocala Cluster
Saga Communications has promoted Lisa Varner to VP/General Manager of its North Central Florida Media radio cluster, filling the role left by retiring GM Howard Tuuri. Tonya Asher joins the cluster from Gainesville’s Gray Media, where she was Director of Sales.
StreamGuys, Nueva Network Get Hyper-Specific for Audio Ads
StreamGuys is making a push into culturally targeted audio advertising, launching SGcreative in partnership with Nueva Network to deliver real-time, geo-targeted ad content to Hispanic and multicultural audiences across the US at national scale.
Bongino’s Return Shakes Up Triton’s February Podcast Ranker
Triton Digital's February 2026 US Podcast Ranker is out, covering February 2 through March 1. While the iHeart Audience Network held the top Sales Network spot with 70.8 million Average Weekly Downloads, the top podcast rankings saw some big shifts.
A Mix Engine Platform, Browser-Based Virtual Console Arrive
There’s a big spotlight coming for Wheatstone when it displays at the 2026 NAB Show, and it will focus on the heritage broadcast technology company’s VMX mixing platform, used for multiple studios, consoles, and glass surfaces.
