Jim Ryan

92 POSTS
Jim Ryan is a Music Radio columnist for Barrett Media. In addition, he runs Jim Ryan Media LLC, a consulting company which assists major market radio brands and top talent including national radio personality Delilah. Prior to relaunching his consultancy in 2025, Jim spent 15 years with Audacy/CBS Radio, serving as SVP of Programming. Among his responsibilities included programming WNEW-FM and WCBS-FM.  His career includes additional programming stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston. Jim was voted the #2 PD of 2024 in Barrett Media's Top 20 series in the AC category. He can be reached by email at Jim@JimRyanMedia.com.

Morning Radio Story Arcs — The Strategy Most Shows Are Missing

"You must involve your listeners so they feel invested and will come back each day to hear what develops."

What Scott Shannon Taught Me About Radio, Golf, and Generosity

"When the Stones walked in, disappointment hit me — I knew the conversation was over."

Why Your Morning Show Sounds Like Everyone Else’s

"When I heard three different shows in different parts of the country doing the same phone topic, I screamed. It's the damn morning show prep service."

From Billboard to Bots: A Guide to Finding Real Hit Songs

"We all know playing a bad song is a bigger tune-out than playing commercials. The best strategy is to proceed with caution. "

Why WFAN’s Boomer Esiason Deserves a Spot in the Radio Hall of Fame

Boomer Esiason never paid his radio dues by doing an overnight show in Akron. He was thrown into the deepest water and told to swim. Not only did he stay afloat, he rose to the top of his profession.

Breaking

Barstool Sports Is Mainstream Media, Whether Dave Portnoy Likes It or Not

"The establishment has changed. When one of the largest and most influential voices in sports reaches millions where modern audiences actually consume content, it isn't operating outside the mainstream anymore."

CNN’s Independence Day Coverage Shows Network’s Live Event Strength

Live event programming is a different animal, and CNN has quietly become one of the best in the business at it.

Joon Lee Reveals How He’s Turned an ESPN Layoff Into a Thriving YouTube Career

"For me, this was a time in my life to try and take a big swing and might as well go for it. Because I don’t have any kids that are dependent on me. It felt like the right time to take a risk."

Music Radio Isn’t Done With the Taylor Swift Wedding

"There are angles everywhere. Pick one per day and build around it."