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Sitting in his office recently, Brad Carson took a look at some swag that he had received from Audacy as a result of a points system set up by the company to reward success to their executives. There was an Audacy backpack and a Memphis Grizzlies hat in the photo that Carson shared on social media and that got him to thinking…
“I was sort of reminded that I was grateful for the opportunity (with Audacy), and I continue to be grateful for the opportunity,” said Carson, Brand and Operations Manager for Audacy Memphis Sports. “It’s a really good time for sports, particularly in the south and particularly in Memphis with Grizzlies Basketball.”
Audacy-owned 92.9 FM ESPN has been the home of Grizzlies basketball for the last 14 years so for Carson’s crew, these are exciting times with the NBA season as well as the Memphis Tigers college basketball season about to tip-off.
When it comes to talking points, basketball is the talk of the town, especially when it comes to the Grizzlies.
“We talk about basketball year-round so it’s just great for the season to be here,” said Carson. “It’s huge. It’s our number one priority because we have a responsibility to them. We’re fair. We’re going to critique the team. [The Grizzlies] and the Tigers are our two pro teams. People treat the Tigers like a pro-type atmosphere both football and basketball.”
The station spends plenty of time talking about the Memphis Tigers, football and basketball, and they’re also the flagship for the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Football. Talking Grizzlies and Tigers is the priority, but the station does have to pivot at times to what is going on elsewhere.
That can be a challenge in some markets with just one pro sports team, but not in Memphis.
“It’s not really a challenge,” said Carson. “It’s more of identifying what the market has to offer. We really don’t do much national. Outside of the NFL which I would argue is a blanket brand as it is. We’re a really weird market. The market organically creates stories almost every single day year-round.”
A unique aspect of the Memphis sports market is that despite the Grizzlies being the only pro team in town, with much of the other focus on the University of Memphis, there always seems to be something going on.
And that is gold for a sports radio station.
“Memphis, for whatever reason, is a lightning-rod market,” said Carson. “We’ve had the station now for 16 years. One of the reasons why…it’s Memphis man.”
It’s been a great run for Brad Carson at Audacy in Memphis and it’s a run that he doesn’t see ending anytime soon.
“It’s been a great opportunity,” said Carson. “They’ve given me so much in my career and I’m really grateful for that. I’m just trying to grow and grow the station.”
Based on his prior results, growing the radio station’s brand and his resume seems to be inevitable.
Peter Schwartz writes weekly sports radio features for Barrett Media. He has been involved in New York sports media for over three decades, and has worked for notable brands such as WFAN, CBS Sports Radio, WCBS 880, ESPN New York, and FOX News Radio. Peter has also served as play by play announcer for the New Yok Riptide, New York Dragons, New York Hitmen, Varsity Media and the Long Island Sports Network. You can find him on Twitter @SchwartzSports or email him at DragonsRadio@aol.com.
