The Toast to 10 series, presented by Premiere Networks, is a month-long look back at 10 years of Barrett Media. Throughout the month, you’ll hear from those who have shaped the company, managed and created content, read the site, and partnered with the brand between 2015 and 2025, sharing how they’ve seen it play a role in covering the media industry and educating, celebrating, and challenging the business.
As Barrett Media celebrates its tenth anniversary this month, we wanted to tell the whole story while honoring additional former writers and contributors who have added their voices to the Barrett Media brand. For a decade, many people have spent long hours working the news cycle while elevating, celebrating, and challenging the industry. That sweat equity is what helped build Barrett Media into the place it holds in the industry today.
Countless voices have covered media surrounding sports, news, and music, ranging from a single guest column to a daily editorial voice. Feature writers have profiled the biggest and brightest stars in the industry, sharing their tales. The industry has been represented by many who have come and gone while leaving their mark along the path with Barrett Media.
There are moments in the industry when the press release doesn’t tell the entire story. The depth of understanding and information is what led me to become a daily reader of the brand and support it from its inception.
When I reached out to several former writers and columnists to share their stories of writing for Barrett Media, I was overwhelmed by the responses. I’ve only written for Barrett Media since February. So my experience is but a small echo in time compared to those I heard from—years of experience filled with stories of the past, all of whom I now call friends.
I appreciated the candor of their contributions. The praise they provided for the work at Barrett Media, which they continue to read and consume regularly. Without their efforts, Barrett Media wouldn’t be standing tall ten years after it launched.
Ryan Glasspiegel, Front Office Sports
Ryan Glasspiegel is the media and entertainment reporter for Front Office Sports. Prior to joining FOS in January of this year, Glasspiegel was a media reporter for OutKick and contributed to several media outlets, including Barrett Media. He is a graduate of the Wisconsin School of Business. Where he studied finance, investments, and banking—a perfect background for the fast-paced role of sports media, with rights deals closing seemingly every day.
Glasspiegel says he began following Barrett Media almost immediately after it launched in 2015.
“It covered sports talk radio at a deeper level than any other publication,” said Glasspiegel, referencing what drew him to Barrett Media.
Glasspiegel has built a career covering the media industry. Providing his signature “glass break” stories involving breaking news across the country. He has grown a social media following because of his efforts. However, the one element Glasspiegel says helps Barrett Media stand out is the balance of how the brand covers stories.
“It provides an impartial look, which is hard to come by,” said Glasspiegel.
Recalling his time with Barrett Media, Glasspiegel said there was an instance where a column by Jason Barrett sparked backlash from ESPN Radio. He says the column is a perfect example of what sets Barrett Media apart from many in the industry.
“Jason wrote a column about ESPN losing its way. He took a lot of grief for that at the time,” explained Glasspiegel. “But then all of his issues wound up being addressed.”
Glasspiegel has attended the Barrett Media Sports Summit in Chicago as a guest. He holds high regard for the passion Jason Barrett has shown in continually expanding the Barrett Media brand. The entrepreneurial spirit continues to show as time goes by.
Derek Futterman, Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman was a member of the Barrett Media team from 2021 until earlier this summer. I had the pleasure of joining the Barrett Media team while Derek was one of the head writers on the sports media side of the business. Derek is a wordsmith. He enjoys finding new and innovative ways to tell a story, just slightly differently than the average profile writer.
In our time working together, Derek was all class. Assisting me in understanding the behind-the-scenes process of writing for Barrett Media while we collaborated on some of his feature pieces. Reaching out to Futterman for this piece allowed me to explore how he helped shape the website as a brand.
“I first became familiar with Barrett Media after winning a contest for free BSM Summit tickets in 2020,” said Futterman. “A few years later, there was an opening on the writing staff, and I made occasional contributions with news and features through college. In May 2023, I joined the company full time as a sports media reporter and wrote weekly features and daily news.”
One element of Futterman that I truly admired was his passion for “landing the big fish.” Although we are many years apart in age, I always found his desire to secure the top names for feature pieces truly inspirational. It helped guide me during my time at Barrett Media. Knowing whom to target and how to approach the art of the interview.
When I asked Futterman how he’s seen the website evolve over time, he noted several examples.
“The website has become more focused on enterprising content and distribution across multiple platforms,” said Futterman. “Lately, there is definitely a push to share content on social media and combat algorithmic changes in terms of reach.”
Futterman, who now writes for Sports Media Watch, says he continues to read the website daily. He stated Barrett Media has long served as an outlet to fill the void in sports talk radio coverage. With two daily newsletters keeping people informed of key events of the day.
Several stories stood out to Futterman during his time with Barrett Media, including the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy and industry-wide layoffs. The rise of digital platforms was also a major topic he enjoyed following.
Futterman also wrote several weekly features for Barrett Media during his tenure. These included exclusive interviews with ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus, legendary broadcaster Bob Costas, and opportunities to identify the top young professionals in media.
“It is important to have an array of voices with expertise in different areas who can address widespread changes and innovation,” said Futterman, highlighting the importance of Barrett Media to the media industry. “In sports media, Barrett Media has proven itself to be among the trusted sources of news and information across various disciplines.”
He concluded by expressing excitement to see how Barrett Media continues to expand and maintain relevance in news media and music radio in the coming years.
Brandon Contes, Awful Announcing
Brandon Contes was a member of the Barrett Media team from 2017 to 2021, writing daily articles for the brand. My first interaction with Contes was when he applied for an on-air position at WDAE in Tampa Bay while I was the program director. I have followed his work since, including his entire time with Barrett Media.
Contes was the only daily writer with Barrett Media when he began his tenure, but he rose to the challenge.
“As an aspiring sports radio host at the time, I sent Jason an unsolicited article reviewing Tony Romo’s debut in the booth with CBS,” said Contes. “Jason liked the article and offered to post it, which I eagerly accepted. Jason then offered me the opportunity to contribute to the site daily, which I was even more eager to accept.”
Over time, Contes saw how the Barrett Media brand continued to expand and become a respected source within the industry. While Contes still aspired to host shows on sports radio, his time with Barrett Media revealed a new career path.
“There was constant and steady growth, which kept me eager to stay involved with the site and ultimately allowed me to realize I could have a career writing about sports media,” said Contes. “The brand has become more of a resource than just a news source. From SportsRadioPD to Barrett Sports Media to Barrett Media, you’ve seen Jason’s willingness to take chances and risks. He knew he had credibility and a following in the sports radio industry. But he’s been eager to earn that same credibility in other media circles.”
Contes, who now writes for Awful Announcing, continues to read Barrett Media daily as a source of news and information for his current role. While still heavily involved in sports media, he finds many in the industry become complacent. Contes believes this is where Barrett Media has and continues to shine the most.
“Listeners and audiences hold the industry accountable. But executives and industry leaders can be quick to dismiss their thoughts and opinions. It’s harder for those executives to be dismissive when Barrett Media holds them accountable,” explained Contes. “One of the best things about Barrett Media is that it highlights how many people truly love and are passionate about media. Sharing that passion can undoubtedly serve as a motivating factor when people find themselves becoming complacent.”
A standout memory for Contes during his time with Barrett Media was the 2020 Barrett Sports Media Summit. Growing up listening to Mike & The Mad Dog on WFAN. Contes says it was exciting to see so many of the largest personalities from sports radio in New York City come together for an event.
“It was the first time the BSM Summit was in New York,” noted Contes. “As a New York sports fan listening to WFAN, getting to see the biggest voices in New York sports media come together in one room for two days was great. Connecting with those voices was incredible.”
Contes knows that, despite the challenges independent outlets like Barrett Media face. He is confident the brand will continue to expand and thrive, thanks to the spirit and leadership of Jason Barrett.
Ryan Maguire, Westwood One Sports
Ryan Maguire was a member of the Barrett Media team from 2019 to 2022. He helped expand coverage into news talk radio and television. Maguire left KIRO-FM in Seattle and found himself “on the beach” with a passion to return to the business he loves.
“Jason was kind enough to feature me as a weekly columnist,” said Maguire of how he joined Barrett Media in 2019. “When he combined his sports and news-talk websites into one with the launch of Barrett Media, I returned to primarily writing articles on sports.”
What drew Maguire to Barrett Media was the story behind why the brand existed.
“I have to give Jason, Stephanie [Eads], and the entire team credit,” explained Maguire. “When Jason left his PD job in San Francisco and decided to go into business for himself. I was actually worried for him. Consulting is a tough field, even for someone as smart as Jason and with ideas valuable to any media brand.”
Maguire immediately recognized the challenges Barrett Media would face in a crowded online field dominated by established brands. He said the risk taken by Jason Barrett was truly inspirational.
“I knew he had a tough road ahead. Little by little, though, he started to grow steadily. He added more clients and staff. Branched out into the news and music side of the industry, and took calculated risks that paid off,” said Maguire. “Now, he has a diversified business that entertains, informs, and serves the media industry.”
Maguire, now Vice President of Affiliate Sales for Westwood One Sports, is a daily reader of the website. He noted BarrettMedia.com should be a bookmark, homepage, and starting point for anyone working in mass media.
With a passion for media coverage in his blood, Maguire says Barrett Media continues to serve as a needed voice to elevate and challenge the industry.
“We need forward-thinking media people making honest assessments of where we are and where we need to go,” stated Maguire.
He wrapped his thoughts on Barrett Media with a personal story of his experience working for Jason Barrett. One he treasures to this day.
“When JB asked me to write for him initially, it was a rough time personally and professionally,” explained Maguire. “I was in between jobs, during the height of COVID lockdowns, and life wasn’t much fun. But having a forum to showcase myself, my ideas, and my personal brand meant the world to me. It gave me the mental and professional boost I needed at the time.”
When Jason Barrett planted the roots of what became Barrett Media. He began with a vision—an understanding that there was a hole in the trades for another voice. Ten years is a lifetime for most small businesses but should also be considered a mark of achievement.
While the industry faces many challenges, Barrett Media’s rise to success is due to its ability to think differently, be recognized, and create a community for a better tomorrow—all fueled by the many voices who contributed to the platform, and many more to come.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
