Jim Ryan

96 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.

Why the Barrett Media Top 20 Lists Matter to Music Radio Professionals

Where else would you find national shows winning in some formats and great local talent in Philly, Detroit, and Boston winning in others?

Music Radio Morning Shows Ignored a 26-Million-Viewer Moment

One morning show told me they didn’t make the hockey win a focus because women don’t care about sports. That, to me, was like saying male-targeted news radio shouldn’t have mentioned the Nancy Guthrie story because men don’t care about kidnappings.

Randy Micahels Was Right — But Music Radio Paid the Price

Randy Michaels compared radio to railroads. Trains are still running, and radio stations are still playing the hits of yesterday and today. But there’s a lot less of both.

If Music Radio Wants Listener Loyalty, Give Them a Story to Follow

If you’re on the air and have built a relationship with your audience, are you telling your story? The more listeners know about you and the cast of your show, the more points of relatability they will have with you.

Music Radio Doesn’t Need Better Research — It Needs More Courage

Visionaries took chances on Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, WFAN, and Charlamagne tha God. If those leaders had played it safe, radio’s AQH would be significantly lower today.

Breaking

iHeartRadio Layoffs Spark Broadcasting Career Change Conversations

"Most union electricians in New York earn around $200,000 annually when overtime is included."

Unorthodox Or Ill-Fated? 60 Minutes’ New Correspondents Raise Eyebrows

Legacy programs carry more risk than most. 60 Minutes is set to begin season 59, and its brand rests on a very specific kind of credibility.

How Ron Slay Proved a Sports Radio Success Story Doesn’t Always Go as Planned

"Being part of a team, you know when you have something special. This is one that feels special top to bottom. It was a no brainer, and I was extremely excited to stay home and keep my talents at The Zone."

How Sports Radio Can Revive Appointment Listening This NFL Season

"It doesn't matter the guest or the amount of money you pay them, listeners will always invest their time when broadcasters prove it’s worth the investment."