Craig Carton once found himself placing a bet on a dog race in Tijuana at three o’clock in the morning. He didn’t know anything about the dogs. In fact, he wasn’t even sure they existed. But for the WFAN-AM/FM New York (660/101.9) personality, the wager illustrates just how far his gambling addiction had taken him. “I can’t tell you that the dogs even exist, but that’s the disease,” Carton recalled during a discussion at NAB Show New York on Wednesday (Oct. 21). “That’s what

Economic uncertainty is prompting consumers to delay major purchases and reduce spending on dining, retail shopping and travel, although many continue to prioritize essential expenses and purchases that they consider worthwhile, according to a new study from Katz Analytics. The survey of 1,000 consumers conducted this month found that 56% of respondents are delaying major purchases because of economic uncertainty. Nearly half said they plan to cut back on dining out (49%) and

TikTok and iHeartPodcasts are adding three more creators to their growing podcast partnership, expanding a network designed to turn short-form video personalities into long-form podcast hosts. The latest additions bring internet culture, sports and fashion into the mix as the companies continue building a bridge between TikTok's creator community and iHeartMedia’s podcast business. The new shows will debut between late October and December, joining a network that launched in

A summer 2026 radio campaign for an experiential brand generated more than 16,000 radio-attributed website sessions, according to a new analysis from Katz Radio Group. The campaign also was associated with more than 100 checkouts and over 260 modeled purchases, offering an example of how radio advertising can drive measurable digital activity beyond traditional awareness metrics. The campaign’s 15- and 30-second radio spots reached nearly 10,000 unique website visitors during

Gemini XIII is combining United Stations Radio Networks (USRN), Gemini XIII Podcast Network and YEA Podcast Network under a new umbrella brand, Gemini Networks, which will reach more than 200 million consumers monthly. The consolidation brings national radio programming and services together with podcasting, YouTube, streaming and digital entertainment offerings. As part of the transition, United Stations Radio Networks will no longer operate as a separate brand, with its pro

Wall Street sees more consolidation ahead for the radio industry, but getting deals done may require a different approach. With debt weighing on some companies and investors reluctant to put fresh money into the business, Apollo Global Management partner Aaron Sobel says stock-for-stock mergers are likely to be the industry's best path forward. Speaking at NAB Show New York on Wednesday (Oct. 21), Sobel said the FCC's support for consolidation has created an opportunity for r

Clay Travis has built a media business that reaches audiences across radio, television and digital platforms, and he believes the key to succeeding in today’s fragmented media environment is a willingness to experiment. With consumers facing more entertainment choices than ever, the radio and TV host says broadcasters can’t afford to rely on the same distribution strategies that built their audiences in the past. “You have to be experimental. I’m a data guy, but I’ll try a lo

Radio broadcasters are discovering that podcasting can do more than extend the reach of their existing programming. It can bring in younger audiences who may never tune in to their radio stations, attract advertisers who might not otherwise buy local radio, and create entirely new businesses that no longer depend on driving listeners back to the broadcast signal. For Hubbard Radio, that shift is already well underway. The company’s SKOR North podcast network, built around Min

Podcast advertising spending surged to a new 2026 high in September, with the top 15 advertisers investing a combined $72.1 million, according to Magellan AI estimates. That’s a jump of more than 16% from August’s $61.9 million total, the year’s previous high. The September increase was especially broad-based, with 14 of the 15 biggest advertisers boosting spending month-to-month. The September results mark a notable acceleration after months of relatively consistent spending

Just as Nielsen Scarborough has done for NFL and college football, with the start of the NBA season comes its just-released NBA Fandom Index, ranking the pro basketball markets with the most engaged fan bases, and showing the importance of radio listening along with other fandom metrics, including game attendance, TV viewership, streaming, social media activity, apparel purchases and overall interest level. The results, Nielsen’s report says, show “a powerful narrative of hea