Celebrated conservative radio talker Mark Levin has cut a long-term extension with Westwood One-Cumulus, meaning one of the nation’s most influential talk show hosts will be on the air for another five years, well past the upcoming 2016 presidential election.
Westwood One announced the contract extension for “The Mark Levin Show” through 2020 Thursday morning. They called Levin, a legal scholar who also runs Landmark Legal Foundation, “one of the most trusted voices in radio.” Five-year contracts are rare in the media.
Levin started on radio in 2002 and his current show was launched on WABC in New York. He now reaches over 7 million listeners on 300 stations, making him one of the handful of talk radio kings along with Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.
He has become influential in GOP and conservative politics, and has even campaigned for some candidates. Fans will likely be happy that he will be on the air covering the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
His listenership has become fans of his legal analysis of key issues such as Obamacare and President Obama’s executive actions.
“I am delighted to continue working with Cumulus and Westwood One and look forward to further developing the show over the next five years,” Levin said. “I am passionate about challenging the mainstream media and educating the public on the most pressing political and legal issues of our time and maintain my commitment to doing so.”
John Dickey, executive vice president of content and programming for Cumulus, said, “Mark has established himself as a pillar in talk radio with his sharp and witty commentary, and we look forward to expanding his program’s reach.”
And not just on radio. Levin is a top-selling author of books influential in conservative politics, including New York Times bestsellers Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, and Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America.
He also has a popular page on Facebook where he regularly makes news.
He was awarded the inaugural Citizens United Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award in 2014, the coveted Ronald Reagan Award in 2001 and earned his J.D. from Temple University.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
