Award season for the Barrett Media Audio Summit season is now complete. Each year at each show, we recognize professionals who have made a significant contribution to the media business. Our news awards this year are going to Chad Lopez, Phil Boyce and Mark Simone. The newly introduced Mike McVay and Scott Shannon Awards will be received by Kevin Rolston and Yonni Rude. And the first two sports media awards, The Jeff Smulyan Award and the Mark Chernoff Award will be presented to Chris Oliviero and Eric Spitz.
That brings us to the final sports media honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
We introduced this honor in 2022 during a memorable event that saw Mike Francesa and Chris Russo reunite after a seven year hiatus. The following year Al Michaels received the honor and gave an awesome speech that people still talk about. The past two years have seen two sports radio legends receive the honor, Philadelphia icon Angelo Cataldi and Chicago’s hometown hero Mike North.
The 2026 Winner Is…
Our 2026 recipient was creating multiplatform impact before the term even existed. He has spent over four decades delivering results locally and nationally across the radio airwaves. It is my pleasure to announce Paul Finebaum as the 2026 Sports Media Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Referred to by many as The Voice of the SEC, Paul Finebaum has built a powerful legacy in the state of Alabama. The success of his radio show in the state led to the launching of The Paul Finebaum Radio Network. That resulted in the program expanding across the Southeast. Expansion into other pockets of the country followed after SiriusXM added the show to its College Sports channel. In 2004, Sports Illustrated named the show one of the top 12 sports radio programs in the United States.
Finebaum joined ESPN in 2013, becoming a featured attraction on the SEC Network, which launched in 2014. His profile has grown larger since through appearances on ESPN television and additional radio syndication with ESPN Radio. Paul’s radio program has been voted one of the best national sports radio shows by executives and program directors every year since the Barrett Media Top 20 series began. He is widely considered one of the greatest sports voices to emerge from the South.
Paul will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday, July 1st between 4:30pm-5:00pm during our sports media awards ceremony. Chris Oliviero will also receive the Jeff Smulyan Award and Eric Spitz will accept the Mark Chernoff Award during the awards presentation. In addition, Finebaum will join Josh Pate for a fascinating conversation led by Kevin Clark that same day at 1pm.
Summit Tickets
1-day, 2-day and 3-day passes to attend the 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit presented by Point to Point Marketing are still available. However, prices increase next week so act now before it becomes more expensive. For details on sessions, speakers, hotel rooms, sponsors and more, click here. All tickets include admission to the Summit After Party following each day’s conference.
We hope to see you in the big apple in two weeks.
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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.
