In sports, legends get farewell tours. In movies, beloved characters ride off into the sunset. But what about in broadcasting? The mic often goes silent when managers and/or talent choose to pursue new directions. That begs the question, should a final show be afforded by brands to established talent?
Last week’s saga at Mad Dog Sports Radio produced bad PR for SiriusXM. Michelle Beadle and Cody Decker learned that Stephen A. Smith would take over their timeslot in September and voiced their disappointment on-air. The duo learned of the news in The Hollywood Reporter rather than from their agents and employer. Understandably, Beadle and Decker were less than thrilled.
This put Stephen A. Smith in a bad spot also. It’s not his job to handle talent situations, that’s for SiriusXM management. What should’ve been an exciting day for Smith instead turned into having to defend his new opportunity, and respond to how the company handled another show’s exit.
Beadle also made it clear that she doesn’t think highly of Smith. She told Front Office Sports, “I just don’t respect him. I think he gets things wrong all the time. I’m not talking about opinions; those can never be wrong. But factually, when you spread yourself so thin, it’s hard to be right. Not a fan.” That gave Smith another issue to address.
Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo acknowledged on his show that Beadle and Decker probably shouldn’t have been put on the air. He reminded listeners that he didn’t get a final show at WFAN when he left in 2008. If not for Mike Francesa putting him on by phone against management’s wishes, Russo’s nearly two-decade connection with New York sports radio listeners would have ended in silence.
It’s a strange contradiction, especially for an industry built on connection. An established on-air talent who has helped influence a station’s identity, forming a bond with an audience and advertisers, is suddenly sent packing without notice. There’s no final show. No acknowledgment. No consideration for the audience. It’s just over.
This topic isn’t new. I wrote about this very issue 8 years ago. Managers are asked to protect the business, even if it doesn’t please the audience or personalities involved. John Mamola discussed it in his column on Friday. But it’s more complicated in 2025, and professionals should be able to find common ground to end public relationships in a professional way.
The Landscape Has Shifted
Listeners are more vocal today about sudden talent disappearances, especially with social media providing an immediate opportunity to reach brand leaders and those affected. Just as recently as two weeks ago, reports of the WWE parting ways with Ron ‘R-Truth’ Killings left fans chanting loudly at arenas in support of the popular wrestler. Heavy amounts of negative feedback hit the company on social media over its decision, and then this past weekend, R-Truth returned to WWE, playing a key role in the main event’s outcome.
The company heard the audience and corrected a mistake. Unfortunately, not all brands and individuals do the same. Whether it should have even been necessary though is where the issue lies. If the company wanted to cut ties with R-Truth, it had the right to do so. The way it was handled is what angered the fan base.
Companies can silence talent on the air if they choose but because most now own a direct connection with the audience, they’re going to get a final message to them. We’re in an era of personality-led brands. On-air talent don’t just belong to radio stations and television networks, they’re followed, shared, and supported across X, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, podcasts, newsletters, and livestreams. The talent is the brand for many listeners. In some cases, more so than the station itself.
That makes abrupt departures even more jarring, and the silence surrounding them more damaging. Not just to the host, but to the station’s credibility, talent culture, and audience trust.
Connection is Currency
Listeners feel ownership of the personalities they invest time in. Whether it’s a morning show they’ve listened to for 15 years or a TV host they watch each night after work. The emotional tie is real for them.
Radio and television are intimate. Voices become part of daily habits. Hosts witness life changes, and react to news and opinions, shaping public conversation. When someone disappears without a trace, it’s not just a staffing move. It’s a break in trust with the audience who have supported the talent and brand.
A proper sendoff—whether it’s a final show, a tribute segment, or even a well-communicated exit such as Dan Patrick’s forthcoming retirement provides closure. It demonstrates that there’s respect for the bond created between audience and talent. It honors the investment both have made in it.
But It’s Not Always That Simple
Not every departure ends with hugs and hand shakes. Sometimes it gets messy or personal. Other times it’s as simple as a shift in business (budget cuts, format changes, a change in direction, etc.) making the sting less painful.
Media brands don’t always have the luxury or interest in providing a feel-good exit. There are non-disclosure agreements, HR protocols, and occasionally bruised egos to handle. None of those challenges justify though a lack of basic acknowledgment, especially when it leaves the audience confused.
There’s also the question of whether or not a talent has been with a brand long-enough and created a major business lift to warrant special treatment. This happens in sports far too often. Teams produce video tributes for players who don’t deserve them simply because they fear social media backlash. In Michelle Beadle and Cody Decker’s case, they deserved better communication than they received, but they weren’t at Mad Dog Sports Radio long enough to warrant the same victory parade that Chris Russo will receive when he elects to shut it down one day.
The Value of a Final Show or Farewell Tour
In recent years, we’ve seen many kinds of exits. Dan Le Batard left ESPN with a heartfelt farewell and instant pivot to his own platform. Fox News and CNN separated from Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon on the same day, offering neither a farewell. Mike Francesa’s departure from WFAN was treated special, but when Mike came back a few months later, taking back his former timeslot from Maggie Gray, Chris Carlin and Bart Scott, it felt empty. That played a part in how Mike’s exit was handled the second time around.
A final show shouldn’t be about ego. It should be about closure for the host, company, and audience. If all involved act professionally and execute it right, it sits better with the public, future employees/employers, and gives everyone involved peace of mind as they explore new directions.
Conclusion
If a final show isn’t possible due to a sudden departure, a host not wanting to do it, or legal/contractual issues preventing it, what matters then is acknowledgment. There are a few ways it can be done.
- A social media tribute by the brand
- An on-air message from colleagues
- A farewell on-air promo, video messages or social media images
- An interview by the departing host with another host on the station
- A written article on the station website or a press release sent to media outlets
Even if the situation is delicate, there are ways to show respect, and avoid speculation. Silence often creates worse outcomes as rumors, distrust, and backlash from the audience and advertisers follows. It also puts the next show on your station or network in a difficult spot with your audience. Conversely, it can help the next show if you end the current relationship the right way. WIP did it perfectly two years ago with Angelo Cataldi.
Personalities now have their own platforms. You’re not going to silence them when they’re losing their job and looking for their next stop even if you threaten to hold up their severance. That said, talent can be insecure and ego driven and think before acting too. Someone else being valued more than them by their employer leads to not taking into consideration that management hasn’t had time to alert co-workers or advertising partners or finish crafting a message to inform the public of their upcoming exit. Instead, they rush to react, and in the process, create negativity, ruining references, and sometimes costing themselves money.
What it boils down to is treating folks with respect. I think established personalities who’ve played a key role in a brand’s audience and business growth deserve an opportunity to say goodbye. A final show isn’t about showing who has more stroke. It’s about ending well, so everyone involved can move forward stronger.
How things start and finish speaks volumes about the relationship between the talent, executive(s) and company. These are public roles, so the audience and advertisers deserve honesty. Saying goodbye is never easy, but not every ending has to create bad blood. With so many of these situations involving adults over the age of 35, it’s stunning that two sides can’t meet, address the elephant in the room, explain what each side wants as the relationship nears its end, and create a plan that all involved are comfortable with.
The Barrett Bash
Invitations went out last week to over 1,000 media industry professionals for the first-ever ‘Barrett Bash’. The invite-only event created to celebrate a decade in business, takes place Thursday September 4th from 5p-8p ET at 1604 Broadway in NYC. We can’t accommodate everyone so if you received the invite and are interested in attending, RSVP as soon as possible. It’s first-come first-served.
Many wait until the month before to confirm attendance at our evets but last week alone we received over 75 confirmations. We expect a few hundred people at the Bash, most representing the sports, news, music, and advertising industries and working in radio, television or digital.
I plan to add a host for this event. We have a DJ but I’m also talking with label contacts about having an artist play a short acoustic-set at the show. Additional surprises are planned as well. Those interested in hosting or supplying an on-site performance can email me at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
2025 BNM Summit
The 2025 BNM Summit comes to New York City for the first-time ever on September 3-4, 2025. Announced already as speakers are Glenn Beck, Chris Ruddy, Mike Gallagher, Erick Erickson, Sid Rosenberg, Mark Simone, Drew Anderssen, Chris Berry, Ken Charles and Mary Sandberg Boyle. Tickets are on-sale until June 30th at the discounted rate of $224.99. Prices increase to $324.99 on July 1st. To secure your seat and reserve your hotel room at the lovely Park Central hotel, visit BNMSummit.com.
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Jason Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media. The company launched in September 2015 and has provided consulting services to America’s top audio and video brands, while simultaneously covering the media industry at BarrettMedia.com, becoming a daily destination for media professionals. Prior to Barrett Media, Jason built and programmed 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which later became 97.5 The Fanatic. Barrett also led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and worked on-air and behind the scenes at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT producing ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ and ‘GameNight’. JB can be reached on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
