The Broadcasters Podcast cover art

The Broadcasters Podcast

The Broadcasters Podcast

By: King Of Podcasts
Listen for free

About this listen

 Are you tired of a media landscape dominated by corporate narratives and shifting cultural tides? Join @KingOfPodcasts on The Broadcasters Podcast, your essential guide through the complex world of entertainment and media.

With decades of frontline media experience, our host acts as your seasoned watchdog, dissecting how digital disruption is radically reshaping movies, TV, music, and radio. We don't just report the changes; we critically examine the corporate influences, the nuances of PC culture, and the myriad social and cultural forces that either champion or choke creativity, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

If you want to understand what's really happening to the content you consume, from your cable box to your streaming feeds, and how it impacts what you see, hear, and believe, this is the podcast for you.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-broadcasters-podcast--3684131/support.Copyright Broadcasters Podcast Art Music Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Music Industry Raises the Rent: ASCAP and BMI Hike Radio Royalties

    Music Industry Raises the Rent: ASCAP and BMI Hike Radio Royalties
    Aug 22 2025
    Music Industry Raises the Rent: ASCAP and BMI Hike Radio Royalties. Meanwhile SoundExchange Hits a Wall with SiriusXM

    The music industry, acting as a landlord for songwriters, has successfully raised the "rent" on terrestrial radio through new deals with ASCAP and BMI, finalized with the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) for nearly 10,000 stations. BMI’s agreement jacks up royalty rates to 2.14% of gross revenue for 2022-2023 and 2.20% from 2026-2029—a nearly 24% spike—demanding back payments for 2022-2024.

    ASCAP’s deal, though less detailed, also ups the rent with higher rates and broader digital licensing, easing station operations but pinching budgets, especially for smaller players.

    Both settlements, lasting through 2029, include digital revenue discounts and minimum fees, ensuring songwriters get a bigger cut while radio tenants face steeper costs.

    Meanwhile, SoundExchange’s attempt to raise the rent on SiriusXM for digital royalties was blocked when a federal court dismissed its $150 million lawsuit, ruling it lacks legal authority to sue under the Copyright Act, leaving it stuck with audits and negotiations.

    These moves show the music industry squeezing more from radio broadcasters while hitting a legal dead end in the satellite realm, reshaping the cost of music for airplay tenants.

    Contact KOP for professional podcast production, imaging, and web design services at http://www.kingofpodcasts.com

    Support KOP by subscribing to his YouTube channel and search for King Of Podcasts

    Follow KOP on Twitter or X and TikTok @kingofpodcasts

    Listen to KOP’s other programs, Podcasters Row… and the Wrestling is Real Wrestling Podcast and The Broadcasters Podcast.

    Buy KOP a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/kingofpodcasts

    Drop KOP a PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate?

    hosted_button_id=3TAB983ZQPNVL

    Drop KOP a CashApp https://cash.app/$kingofallpodcasts

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-broadcasters-podcast--3684131/support.
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Taylor Swift Teases The Life of a Showgirl and a Stern SiriusXM Exit Sparks Debate

    Taylor Swift Teases The Life of a Showgirl and a Stern SiriusXM Exit Sparks Debate
    Aug 15 2025
    The music and media worlds are buzzing with seismic developments as Taylor Swift gears up for the release of her 12th studio album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, on October 3, 2025, while Howard Stern’s impending departure from SiriusXM after a 20-year run ignites controversy and speculation. Swift’s album, announced with characteristic flair on her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s *New Heights* podcast, is set to inject a surge of adrenaline into the fall music scene, with industry insiders and fans alike predicting it will dominate the Billboard Hot 100 and streaming platforms. Meanwhile, Stern’s expiring $100 million-a-year contract with SiriusXM, set to conclude in December 2025, has sparked a firestorm of commentary, with polarized reactions highlighting his polarizing legacy in radio.Swift’s *The Life of a Showgirl* promises to be a cultural juggernaut. Revealed on August 13, 2025, during a nearly two-hour *New Heights* episode, the album features 12 meticulously crafted tracks produced by Swift alongside pop titans Max Martin and Shellback, marking their first full collaboration since 2017’s *Reputation*.The album’s title track includes a highly anticipated feature from Sabrina Carpenter, a former Eras Tour opener, adding to the excitement. Swift described the album as a vibrant reflection of her behind-the-scenes experiences during the record-breaking Eras Tour, emphasizing its “infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic” energy. With a focused tracklist—Swift confirmed no bonus tracks will follow, unlike the 31-song *The Tortured Poets Department*—and a glittering aesthetic featuring a Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott-shot cover of Swift in a diamond-encrusted showgirl costume, the album is poised to be a pop masterpiece. Four deluxe CD variants, each with unique artwork and collectibles, have already driven pre-order frenzy, while a curated Spotify playlist and orange-themed promotions (including the Empire State Building glowing orange) amplify the hype. Given Swift’s track record—*The Tortured Poets Department* claimed 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and smashed streaming records with 300 million plays in a single day—industry analysts expect *The Life of a Showgirl* to dominate charts and streaming platforms, potentially replicating her historic 2022 feat of occupying the entire Billboard Hot 100 top 10 with *Midnights*. Fans have already spotted numerological Easter eggs, like the October 3 (10+3=13) release date tying to Swift’s lucky number, fueling speculation of a calculated chart takeover.Concurrently, Howard Stern’s reported exit from SiriusXM has unleashed a torrent of reactions, reflecting his divisive status in media. InsideRadio suggests SiriusXM and Stern are capitalizing on the controversy, noting that Stern’s team is “making sure a hot controversy doesn’t go to waste” by hyping a potential announcement around September 2, 2025, possibly clarifying his future with the network or a new venture. Supporters argue Stern’s boundary-pushing style remains relevant, pointing to his loyal listener base and cultural impact over decades. The polarized feedback underscores a broader debate about legacy media figures in a digital age, with some X users reveling in Stern’s potential downfall and others speculating he may pivot to a new platform to maintain his influence.Together, these stories highlight contrasting dynamics in entertainment: Swift’s unstoppable ascent, leveraging her cultural dominance and fanbase to redefine pop music, and Stern’s uncertain transition, as his once-dominant radio presence faces scrutiny. As Swift prepares to electrify the fall with *The Life of a Showgirl*, potentially sweeping the Billboard Hot 100 and streaming charts, Stern’s saga serves as a counterpoint—a reminder of the challenges legacy media faces in retaining relevance. By October, Swift’s album is likely to be the soundtrack of the season, while Stern’s next move, expected to be clarified in September, will determine whether he can reclaim his spotlight or fade into media history.Contact KOP for professional podcast production, imaging, and web design services at http://www.kingofpodcasts.comSupport KOP by subscribing to his YouTube channel and search for King Of PodcastsFollow KOP on Twitter or X and TikTok @kingofpodcastsListen to KOP’s other programs, Podcasters Row… and the Wrestling is Real Wrestling Podcast and The Broadcasters Podcast.Buy KOP a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/kingofpodcastsDrop KOP a PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3TAB983ZQPNVLDrop KOP a CashApp https://cash.app/$kingofallpodcastsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-broadcasters-podcast--3684131/support.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Howard Stern's Exit Signals Podcasting Superiority and the End of Morning Radio

    Howard Stern's Exit Signals Podcasting Superiority and the End of Morning Radio
    Aug 8 2025
    Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed "King of All Media," faces an uncertain future at SiriusXM as his five-year, $500 million contract nears its end in December 2025, marking a potential close to his 20-year tenure with the satellite radio giant. Reports indicate that SiriusXM is unlikely to renew Stern’s contract at his reported $100 million annual salary, not due to his polarizing political stances, but as a strategic business decision driven by the evolving dynamics of live and on-demand audio, particularly the rise of podcasting. This shift reflects broader industry trends where SiriusXM is pivoting toward more cost-effective, digitally native content to attract younger audiences and compete in a fragmented media ecosystem.Stern’s transformative impact on SiriusXM is undeniable. When he joined in 2006, the platform had fewer than 600,000 subscribers; today, it boasts nearly 35 million, with Stern’s uncensored, boundary-pushing show playing a pivotal role in that growth. As Charlamagne Tha God noted, “Howard Stern put SiriusXM on the map,” elevating satellite radio’s cultural relevance and subscriber base through his raw, engaging style and high-profile celebrity interviews. However, the audio landscape has changed dramatically since Stern’s arrival. The rise of podcasting, amplified by platforms like YouTube and Spotify, has disrupted traditional radio models, offering on-demand, visually engaging content that appeals to younger demographics. SiriusXM’s recent investments in podcasting superstars like Alex Cooper of *Call Her Daddy* ($125 million deal) and *SmartLess* ($100 million-plus) signal a deliberate shift toward diversified, podcast-driven content to bolster subscriber growth and ad revenue.This pivot is driven by economic realities. SiriusXM’s subscriber growth has plateaued, and the company reported a 3% year-over-year revenue decline to $2.2 billion in its latest quarter. Stern’s high salary, coupled with his reduced schedule—now broadcasting just three days a week with extended breaks—has become harder to justify as listener habits shift toward on-demand audio. The company’s acquisition of podcasts like *SmartLess* and *Call Her Daddy*, which resonate with Gen Z and millennial audiences, reflects a strategy to convert free podcast listeners into paid subscribers, potentially through paywalls, as noted by SiriusXM President Scott Greenstein. These shows, with their massive download numbers (e.g., *Crime Junkie* ranks as the second-biggest U.S. podcast), offer a more scalable, cost-effective way to engage new audiences compared to Stern’s expensive, live-radio model.Tensions with newer talent, such as Alex Cooper, whom sources claim Stern “can’t stand,” highlight the generational and format shift. Cooper’s *Call Her Daddy* has been praised for its digital-first approach, leveraging SiriusXM’s infrastructure to expand into video and live events, areas where Stern’s show has lagged. Industry analyst Brian Russo estimated in 2020 that 15% of SiriusXM subscribers (roughly 2.7 million at the time) could cancel if Stern leaves, but the company’s bolstered roster—including James Corden, Andy Cohen, and Conan O’Brien—suggests confidence in weathering this loss. The broader podcasting boom, with YouTube emerging as a dominant player (handling 70% of U.S. podcast consumption), underscores the challenge: Stern’s live, audio-only format struggles to compete with the accessibility and visual appeal of podcasting.If Stern departs, potential landing spots include podcast platforms like Spotify or iHeartRadio, where he could maintain creative control, or even YouTube, where video podcasts thrive. Alternatively, he might sell his extensive archive for replays on uncensored digital platforms or pursue limited-run specials. While Stern’s legacy as a trailblazer in uncensored broadcasting remains intact, SiriusXM’s move away from his high-cost model reflects a pragmatic adaptation to a podcast-driven future, prioritizing flexibility and broader audience reach over reliance on a single, aging star.Contact KOP for professional podcast production, imaging, and web design services at http://www.kingofpodcasts.comSupport KOP by subscribing to his YouTube channel and search for King Of PodcastsFollow KOP on Twitter or X and TikTok @kingofpodcastsListen to KOP’s other programs, Podcasters Row… and the Wrestling is Real Wrestling Podcast and The Broadcasters Podcast.Buy KOP a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/kingofpodcastsDrop KOP a PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3TAB983ZQPNVLDrop KOP a CashApp https://cash.app/$kingofallpodcastsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-broadcasters-podcast--3684131/support.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.