The 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit presented by Point to Point Marketing is exactly three weeks away. That’s when our news media show kicks off the three-day industry conference. If you work in the business and value learning, connecting, innovating, and celebrating success, join us in the room. This conference has something for everyone regardless of whether you work in music, news, advertising or sports media. Tickets are available here or thru the Summit section up top.
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Today’s announcement is about honoring excellence in news/talk programming. It is my pleasure to name Phil Boyce, the 2026 recipient of the Gold Standard in Programming Award. Phil will receive the honor and address the room on Tuesday, June 30th during the Premiere Networks Awards ceremony.
We introduced this honor in 2024. Ken Charles of WSB and Julia Ziegler of WTOP were the 2024 and 2025 winners. Our 2026 recipient’s prints are all over the news talk radio industry. He has played a pivotal role in launching careers and shaping the format into what it is today. If the honor were based on past accomplishments, Phil Boyce could win this award annually. But it’s the work he’s done in 2025-2026 that demonstrates how much of a force he remains today.
Looking back at 2025, we gathered the news media family in NYC on September 3rd and 4th. One week later, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in front of the entire world. For many, it was a tragic event and something you discussed among colleagues, friends and family. For Phil Boyce, it was the loss of a friend, an employee/partner, and a show that was a huge part of Salem Radio’s lineup.
No matter how strong of a programmer you are, there is no playbook for managing through a situation like that. You have to think about your employees, your audience, your advertisers, your bosses, and the way you address and message everything. There’s a need to provide friendship and support to Charlie’s Turning Point USA family, offering ample space to grieve and broadcast, while also thinking about how to move forward. Furthermore, there’s thinking about your hosts, and whether or not to put them back out for live shows. If you do, how do you make sure they’re safe? What do you do if danger arises?
That lesson in leadership is hard enough. Now combine that with talented hosts leaving to explore futures in politics, and it puts even greater strain on keeping a brand strong. Yet if you look at how Salem came through it, Phil Boyce once again passed the test with flying colors.
Sometimes we take for granted how important a strong programming leader is. We trust that they’ll show up and do what they do, as if its just another typical day in radioland. But there’s a reason why people like Phil Boyce stand tall among programming giants. They are always prepared. And in the face of adversity, they keep brands, companies, and businesses thriving, regardless of what’s in front of them.
Phil Boyce’s programming accomplishments are endless. Talk radio professionals revere him and respect him, for good reason. As crazy as it sounds, his work in 2025-2026, might have been his most important work yet.
On behalf of the news/talk radio industry, I am honored to present Phil with the 2026 Gold Standard in Programming Award. The ceremony on Tuesday, June 30th should be a memorable one. I hope to see you in the room.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
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.
