Seventeen months ago, we wrapped up one of our best events to date in New York City – the 2020 BSM Summit. After the conference wrapped up, I took some photos with our team on the stage at the Ailey Theater and couldn’t have felt better about what we had produced over a two to three day period. Talent, executives, agents, programmers, producers, sellers, and affiliate and PR reps all were represented in the room, and as someone who lives and breathes this business and wants to see it thrive, I felt we did our part to help.
Little did any of us know that just three weeks later none of it would prepare us for what we were about to experience. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the sports world stopped, the industry began losing revenue and audience rapidly, and the business I had spent five years building was suddenly in danger.
Fortunately, the world of sports returned a few months later, most of my clients remained loyal and we weathered the storm together, and nearly a year and a half later BSM is doing well. I’m blessed to work with stations and companies all over the nation but whether I work with someone or not, I’m always thinking about how we can bring industry people together, elevate the business, and ultimately secure our careers while improving the brands we represent.
Which brings me to today’s announcement.
I am pleased to announce that the 2022 BSM Summit will take place once again in New York City. The dates will be Wednesday March 2nd and Thursday March 3rd, and our location will be the Anne Bernstein Theater on West 50th Street, a few blocks away from Times Square. Tickets will go on sale on August 1st. We’ll start announcing some of our speakers, awards ceremonies, and events around that time too, and we’ll continue adding to the schedule leading up to the event just as we’ve done the past few years. For folks who live in the northeast or work in the big apple, be advised that as of today, we are planning to move our 2023 and 2024 events to the west coast.
Many months were spent contemplating whether or not we should even do another conference. The information about the pandemic kept changing so what seemed like a great idea in March, suddenly became the wrong idea in May. I was all set to host the event virtually in late September, but then the country started to open up. Soon live crowds were back and it just didn’t feel right to do a two-day show online when so many had spent over a year on Zoom calls, unable to interact in person with friends, colleagues, and industry professionals.
So, rather than rush an event, I decided not to do a Summit in 2021. I didn’t launch this conference to fatten my wallet, I started it to create a fun, informative and productive two-day event to help folks better understand the business and grow as professionals. I’m excited to welcome two hundred industry friends to NYC in March for our next show, but there is also one difference this year compared to year’s past. For the first time ever, we will also make the event available live virtually for folks who prefer not to travel. A huge thanks to NuVoodoo Media Services for serving as our virtual partner on this event.
As fun and productive as the Summit is, the process of putting it together is stressful. There’s no booking committee securing speakers, sales team selling sponsorships, producers creating sessions and the powerpoint presentations that support them or handlers taking care of things such as ordering the awards, programs, badges, cutting up video, etc.. It’s me, a few members of my family, and Demetri. I don’t share that seeking sympathy, only to remind you that when I reach out for one of the reasons mentioned above, please be supportive if you can. Bringing a format together is not easy so anything you can do to make it less complicated is a huge help.
Time now to put the wheels in motion. I’ll see you in the city that never sleeps in March.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
