Cumulus Media vs NPR

Podcast Ad Spend Lags Consumption, Industry Calls for Metrics Overhaul

At the IAB's Podcast Upfront, industry leaders highlighted that while podcast ad spend grew 18% to $3 billion, it lags behind consumption, which accounts for 15% of digital media time but only 2% of digital ad spend. The IAB released a new framework, 'Podcasts Continue to Evolve,' to address measurement challenges. Key issues include the shift to video podcasts, with 49% of consumers expected to watch video podcasts in 2026, and the inadequacy of download metrics. The industry is moving towards HLS streaming for better measurement, and Amazon Ads plans to integrate podcast video ad buys into its DSP. Calls were made for improved measurement and for advertisers to embrace smaller, independent shows.

• Podcast ad spend reached $3 billion in 2025, growing 18% year-over-year.
• Podcasts account for 15% of digital media time but only 2% of digital ad spend.
• IAB released a new framework called 'Podcasts Continue to Evolve'.

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, Official Network Audio Partner of the NFL, Celebrates 40th Consecutive Season and Reveals 2026 NFL Lineup and Programming Highlights, From NFL Kickoff to Super Bowl Lxi

Westwood One brings all the excitement of the new NFL season to football fans starting Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with a season-opening matchup between the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA

Cumulus Validates Xperi's In-Car Infrastructure Strategy

Cumulus Media has become the first commercial licensee and flagship broadcaster partner for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium, giving the radio group near-census, real-time visibility into in-car radio consumption. The deal validates Xperi’s strategy of building a white-label in‑car measurement and addressability layer beneath other platforms rather than competing with them. Xperi (parent company of TiVo) and its DTS AutoStage platform claim broad automotive reach: Xperi’s HD Radio receivers are in over 110 million North American vehicles and DTS AutoStage currently powers more than 16 million vehicles globally, including BMW and Mercedes‑Benz models. TiVo Ads is also developing a persistent Household ID to connect living-room audiences to in‑car listeners, expanding addressable household inventory for advertisers.

• Cumulus Media signed as the first commercial licensee for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium.
• Xperi is the parent company of TiVo and operates a white‑label in‑car measurement infrastructure.
• Xperi’s HD Radio receivers are present in more than 110 million North American vehicles.

US Movie Attendance Down 248M Since 2019; Revenue Up

North American box office revenue in summer 2026 is recovering in raw dollars even as attendance lags well behind 2019 levels. Through mid‑August 2026 cinemas sold 547.1 million tickets versus 795.9 million in the same 2019 period, a decline of about 248 million admissions. Higher average ticket prices (now above $13, with premium formats like IMAX averaging $18.46) plus demand for large‑format and luxury auditoriums have pushed projected summer revenue toward roughly $4.5 billion. The physical footprint has shrunk—Omdia counted 44,283 screens in 2019 and more than 7,000 had closed by the end of last year—and studios released fewer titles this summer. Several 2026 event films crossed $1 billion worldwide, and unexpected low‑budget hits also contributed. The industry is converting fewer visits into more revenue, raising questions about long‑term reach and the health of cinema as a mass media channel.

• Through mid‑August 2026 North American cinemas sold 547.1 million tickets, compared with 795.9 million in the same period of 2019 (a decline of ~248.8 million admissions).
• The industry is on pace for roughly a $4.5 billion summer box office in 2026.
• Research firm EntTelligence reports the average adult movie ticket above $13; IMAX averages $18.46 and standard tickets average $12.87.

The Taste–Talent Gap in an Algorithm-Driven Age

This Substack essay, adapted from the author’s book Super Skill, examines the “taste–talent gap” described by Ira Glass: many beginners have strong taste but their early work falls short of it. The author argues that algorithmic recommendation systems and generative AI are making it harder for people to develop independent taste, while simultaneously flooding feeds with low-quality, AI-generated content. As a result, taste becomes rarer and more valuable. The essay recommends regaining agency through deliberate practices summarized by the TASTE acronym (Take back the wheel; Attune your taste; Study the masters; Try and fail; Embrace the gap), and uses examples from Ira Glass, David Sedaris, Quentin Tarantino, and others to show how study, community, and persistent work close the gap.

• The essay is published on Substack and is adapted from the author’s book Super Skill: Why Storytelling Is the Superpower of the AI Age.
• The piece cites a 2009 Current TV interview in which Ira Glass explained the taste–talent gap in creative work.
• The author argues that social recommendation algorithms (notably Facebook’s News Feed and TikTok’s For You algorithm) and generative AI make it harder for people to develop independent taste.

US Cuts CPB Funding, Harms PBS and NPR

The Rescissions Act of 2025 eliminated roughly $1.1 billion in previously allocated federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 24, 2025, and following an administration executive order in May 2025, the funding cuts prompted the CPB to wind down operations and its board voted to dissolve the corporation by January 2026. National networks PBS and NPR have continued operating via private donations, underwriting and philanthropy, but many local public radio and television stations — especially in rural and underserved areas that relied on CPB grants for 15–50% of revenue — faced layoffs, program reductions and some closures. PBS cut about 100 positions and New Jersey PBS announced plans to shut down in 2026. The CPB’s final activities included asset distributions and archival partnerships, including work with the University of Maryland.

• The Rescissions Act of 2025 eliminated approximately $1.1 billion in funding previously allocated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
• President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law on July 24, 2025; an executive order in May 2025 had directed CPB to halt support to NPR and PBS.
• CPB announced plans to wind down in August 2025 and its board voted to dissolve the corporation by January 2026.