Report That WLS-AM, Chicago to Drop Limbaugh Denied by Cumulus.  Chicago media writer Robert Feder reported earlier today (3/5) that inside sources at Cumulus Media Chicago say news/talk WLS-AM is preparing to drop Premiere Networks’ Rush Limbaugh from the daily lineup due to sagging ratings and revenue.  However, after Feder reported that Cumulus initially had no comment on the matter, the company is now telling him the report is “not at all accurate.”  Regular TALKERS readers are aware that WLS-AM has been revamping its lineup, recently announcing the arrival of Jonathon Brandmeier to the program schedule for the 9:00 am to 11:00 am slot but Cumulus is insistent that the initial Limbaugh story is not true.

Cooke: Analysis of Infinite Dial 2015.  The Infinite Dial 2015 study was released by the folks at Edison Research and Triton Digital on March 4 and the results are, in the words of consultant Holland Cooke, “must-reading for anyone, in any format, in radio.  And ‘anyone’ includes sales.”  This year, the annual study was based on data from answers to questions posed to 2002 persons 12+ (during January and February of this year) and addresses the broad query of media usage in various circumstances.  What’s not particularly surprising is the continued rise in preference for Internet-based media by consumers.  But the actual numbers shed some light on how and why people are going to a particular medium for content.  See Holland Cooke’s summary and commentary on the study here.

Hillary Clinton Email Probe, SCOTUS ObamaCare Case, Fed’s Ferguson Discrimination Report, Iran Nukes Issue, 2016 Presidential Prospects, South Korea Ambassador Attacked, and Winter Weather Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (3/4).  The investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of private email for State Department business; the Affordable Care Act case being heard by the Supreme Court; the scathing report on Ferguson, Missouri’s record of discrimination and harassment of minorities; the issue of a treaty that would allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons; the potential candidates for president 2016; the knife attack of the U.S.’s ambassador to South Korea; and the ongoing wintry weather across much of the country were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Tags: Chicago, Holland Cooke, Infinite Dial 2015, Premiere Networks, Robert Feder, Rush Limbaugh, WLS-AM

Category: Front Page News, Industry News