Taylor Swift is ten times more famous than Patrick Mahomes. Yes, you read that right. Estimates the last two weeks — since Taylor Swift took over the NFL — is that the biggest music star in the world is 10-fold more famous than the NFL’s biggest star. And both news/talk and sports radio need to recognize that.
So with that being said, who can blame FOX, NBC, CBS, or ESPN for leaning into this storyline since Swift showed up at Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on her new “friend” Travis Kelce? They would be doing a disservice to their potential new audience to not at least recognize and have some fun with the budding relationship that has stolen the news and sports headlines the last two weeks.
And when it comes to talk radio — news or sports — why wouldn’t you talk about this story and have fun with it? Yes, I’m biased as I write this column from Kansas City. However, our goal as a show and station, in any market, is to figure out how to make an audience with a male lean, ideally between 25-54, to consume our content.
And for those who are adults in that age group, especially those with children, I can promise you that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is a topic in the household, out in the neighborhoods, and in the schools, in a way that the NFL by itself is not.
Rolling with this story gives you a lighter topic that isn’t the “hard news of the day”. This also allows radio hosts to showcase other parts of their personalities in ways that are more difficult when talking about national politics or local city council issues. This gives you variety as a host and brings the audience your angle on the biggest pop culture story of the year that blends sports, music, and culture in a way we haven’t seen in years
Oh, and yes, I’m warning you. I promise you will get complaints. And no, I would not recommend spending hours upon hours breaking down their post-game outfits. But do not sweat the complaints. With all due respect to the complainers, I can nearly guarantee that the majority will be those outside the demo, to put it politely, who will come back or stay with you, no matter how much they insist otherwise.
This is not turning your back on your P1. This is broadening your potential reach and showing that your radio show can have fun, be unique, and talk about things beyond just X’s and O’s, whether in sports or politics. That makes you more interesting. I don’t know about you, but in real life, I like talking with people who are able to talk about multiple topics and issues, and have a wide range of interests.
Why wouldn’t we also want that from our talk show hosts?
For those of you still doubting this column, there will come a day weeks, months, or years down the road when you’re breaking down another potential government shutdown as a news/talk host, or a bad drive by your hometown NFL team, and you’ll wish you had something to mix it up.
You have that now, so embrace it, have fun with it, and enjoy it.
Pete Mundo is a weekly columnist for Barrett Media, and the morning show host and program director for KCMO in Kansas City. Previously, he was a fill-in host nationally on FOX News Radio and CBS Sports Radio, while anchoring for WFAN, WCBS News Radio 880, and Bloomberg Radio. Pete was also the sports and news director for Omni Media Group at K-1O1/Z-92 in Woodward, Oklahoma. He’s also the owner of the Big 12-focused digital media outlet Heartland College Sports. To interact, find him on Twitter @PeteMundo.
