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The Interview: The Vince Coglianese Show, Westwood One

Garrett Searight
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The Interview: The Vince Coglianese Show, Westwood One

Vince Coglianese is pulling out all the stops in his first few weeks hosting the Westwood One radio show — The Vince Coglianese Show — previously helmed by Dan Bongino.

After previously featuring a sit-down with Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., and Vice President JD Vance, Coglianese pulled his biggest guest yet. Last week, he featured a phone conversation with President Donald Trump.

Anytime you score an interview with a sitting President, it raises eyebrows. Especially when it’s only your second week in national syndication.

I listened to the interview between Donald Trump and Vince Coglianese to see how someone with the interviewing chops of the nationally syndicated radio host tackled the conversation.

To begin, Coglianese admitted it was a pre-recorded interview. Which I appreciate, because being upfront and honest is always the best policy. Plus, it sounds realistic that the President of the United States has a pretty busy schedule that might not be all that flexible. So, good start by admitting that it wasn’t live.

The first question from the Westwood One host was about his former colleague, Dan Bongino. He asked the President what the conversation was like when the topic of Bongino joining the administration as Deputy Director of the FBI was broached.

I thought it was a good opener. It is softening — not that Trump needs to be softened, he’s going to talk about whatever he wants to talk about before ultimately coming around to answer whatever question was asked — and also endearing to the audience that Coglianese is still in the process of capturing. Bongino was obviously a fixture for many taking in the conversation, so to hear insight into how someone they loved left his post to join the Trump administration is illuminating.

The next question centered on the “wins” President Trump has seen in his first 65 days in office.

“Let’s talk about your presidency, how things are going with you. We’re now 65 days in, if you can believe it. And although it doesn’t receive a lot of coverage, we’ve had a lot of positive news. Violent illegals are being rounded up and deported by the thousands. Border crossings down by 96%. manufacturing jobs up. Inflation is going down. Gas prices are way down. Egg prices are down. Orange juice prices are down. Is this, in your view, going better than your first term?

There are some things I didn’t love in the execution of this question. First, it’s wordy. Too wordy, in my estimation. I understand the idea is to highlight the victories that — in Coglianese’s opinion — don’t get enough attention. But those are things the President can say in his answer, rather than be led there by the host. A wise person once told me the best questions are two sentences or less. And I think that’s true.

When you’re in a bit of a time crunch — and despite never having interviewed a sitting President, I have to assume it’s always a time crunch — it’s my view that getting as many questions — especially short questions with more time for the guest to answer — is the best gameplan.

Also, giving the benefit of the doubt to Vince Coglianese, his use of the term “We’ve had a lot of positive news,” is likely from the perspective of “America has had a lot of positive news.” But when you use the term “We,” it sounds sort of buddy-buddy, “We’re on the same team!” to me. And while I think, obviously, there can be “friendly” interviews of any President, I’m not enamored with using the term “We”. Probably unimportant in the grand scheme of things, I know. But not a fan of that style of interview.

Despite not loving the second question, the follow-up was excellent. Coglianese pointed out that he had spoken with Vice President Vance last week, and asked President Trump what the differences between Vance and former Vice President Mike Pence are.

That’s a great question. For a variety of reasons. The answer is likely to create news headlines simply by Trump’s answer, which is going to bring more attention to the show first and foremost. But also one that I think listeners would like to have insight into. There’s only one person who can answer that question, and he’s on the phone line! It was a great use of time with the President.

The discussion continued by the Westwood One host asking what Vance and his delegation going to Greenland would entail in the coming days. And this is where I think Vince Coglianese made his biggest misstep in the interview.

During his answer, President Trump said, several times, that the island was something that the United States “has to have.” That’s a big statement for a President to make. This is the leader of the free world stating that — in no uncertain terms — the United States will do whatever it takes to acquire an autonomous territory of one of our allies.

There are lots of follow-up questions to his answer:

  • “What does that mean, exactly?”
  • “Why is Greenland so imperative to our national security?”
  • “What measures are you prepared to take to ensure that we get Greenland?”
  • “Where does acquiring the island rank on your list of priorities?”

I could go on, but I assume you get the picture. Instead, Coglianese followed up the answer by asking “Do you think the people of Greenland are eager to become American citizens?”

Is that a question we need the answer to right now? No. It might not even be an answer we ever need. Because the idea that — even if the people of Greenland want to join America (and by recent polling, they overwhelmingly do not) — that matters to how the United States would go about acquiring Greenland doesn’t hinge on whether or not they want to be American citizens.

Going back to the “this will create headlines” portion of the conversation, I think a better follow-up of just what, exactly, Trump means by saying the United States “has to have” the island means would have generated even more, and even bigger, headlines.

But a follow-up of “Do you think they’re looking forward to joining us?” is, first of all, presumptuous. And, secondly, unimportant.

I didn’t expect the conversation between Vince Coglianese and Donald Trump to be a hard-hitting, hard-news interview. That was never going to be in the cards. But I don’t think this was ultimately the best use of the time with the President, either.

I’m not 100% sure what the gameplan going into the interview was. Obviously, any time you can get the President of the United States on the show, you take it. But after you take it, there has to be a strong sense of where you’d like to steer the conversation, what questions you want the answer to the most, a prioritization of questions because you know you might only get a couple of them, etc…

I didn’t necessarily see that in this interview. It felt as the it was more of an opportunity to simply promote for a few days “Hey, we’re going to have President Trump on the show!”, which is a hell of a thing to promote to your audience, by the way. Was the substance there for the audience? Probably. They are going to think anything said is fantastic. That’s simply the world we live in today.

But later in the conversation, there were a lot of “rigged election”, “Russian collusion hoaxes”, and “liberal media” terms thrown around. There wasn’t a whole lot of new ground broken outside of the first few minutes of the conversation. There were a lot of things rehashed that the President has spoken on — at length — for years now.

If the mission was for Coglianese to endear himself to the President, I would say he did a truly great job. And I don’t say that cynically. If he’s setting himself up to be someone the President will go to when he wants to get a message out, that’s a great card to have in your back pocket.

But if this was the only time this year, for instance, that Vince Coglianese gets to interview President Donald Trump, I think the Westwood One host left some opportunities on the table.

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.

WOWO Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Garrett Searight
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WOWO Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Fort Wayne, Indiana

On March 31st, 1925, a 500-watt transmitter debuted in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 100 years later, WOWO has a little bit more power on 1190 AM and 92.3 FM, and is still making a huge impact on the Northeast Indiana city.

Those in the Summit City have depended on WOWO as a voice of the community in countless situations. The heritage brand has featured an illustrious history worthy of a grand celebration of its centennial. And the preparations for that celebration have been more than a year in the making.

“We began talking about WOWO’s 100th, in earnest, about a year ago, which gave us a lot of time to come up with ideas on how to celebrate with the community and the great thing we all decided was the celebration shouldn’t last just one day, but should be a year-long event,” Program Director Jon Zimney told Barrett Media.

Kayla Blakeslee, host of Fort Wayne’s Morning News, said she believes the station continues to matter to Fort Wayne listeners due to its long history of community service. She takes pride in that element.

“WOWO isn’t just a station people listen to—it’s a station people believe in,” said Blakeslee. “That’s rare in today’s media landscape. There’s a reason generations of families have kept WOWO on their dial. They know that when they tune in, they’re getting real news, honest conversation, and a connection to their community.

“I take that responsibility seriously. I don’t just sit behind a microphone every morning—I’m having real conversations with people, keeping them informed, making them laugh when they need it, and yes, throwing in a little sass when the moment calls for it. Because news shouldn’t just be about headlines—it should be about people, their concerns, their stories, and making sure they have a voice. And that’s exactly what WOWO has always been about.”

Blakeslee called helming the morning show on a legacy brand like WOWO a dream come true.

“It’s truly an honor,” she said. “For a century, this station has been the heartbeat of Northeast Indiana … to be a small part of that history — to carry that responsibility every morning — it’s humbling. I think about the great voices who came before me — Charly Butcher, Bob Sievers, and Jay Gould, just to name a few — and I think about the incredible stories told over these airwaves, and the generations of listeners who have turned to WOWO for truth, perspective, and connection. This isn’t just a job—it’s a privilege. And as we approach 100 years, I feel an even deeper obligation to honor what this station has meant to so many while pushing it forward for the future.”

In 2023, WOWO added a stronger FM simulcast at the 92.3 FM signal. It marked a return to the signal for the Federated Media news/talk brand, which had previously aired on 92.3 FM from March 2012 to January 2016 before moving to 107.5 FM in Fort Wayne. While the daytime signal of 1190 AM features 50,000 watts of power, it drops to a directional signal and 9,800 watts at nighttime. 92.3 FM has 2,200 watts compared to the 75 watts its previous FM-simulcast on 107.5 FM featured.

Since making the move, the station has seen a ratings jump. Before making the move, the station was 12th in the Persons 25-54 demographic with a 2.4 share. In the fall back of 2024, WOWO had seen that figure jump to a 6.0 share, good for fifth in the market. That has led to optimism for the brand going forward.

“Typically, news/talk stations win with men, but not necessarily with persons 25-54,” said Federated Media Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Programming James Derby. “We believe the move to the FM has not only helped boast our male numbers but certainly with women too.  We love the long-standing tradition of 1190-AM and it won’t go away but to remain relevant and attract our future listeners FM and Stream must be part of the mix.”

“It’s been a game-changer,” Blakeslee added of the move to 92.3 FM. “WOWO has always been strong on 1190 AM, but there’s no denying that getting back on 92.3 FM gave us a clearer, stronger, and more accessible presence in the community. It’s easier for folks to tune in while driving, and it’s brought back listeners who told me they drifted away over the years.

“When we first announced the return, you could feel that renewed energy — more engagement, more interaction, more people relying on us again as their go-to news source. At the end of the day, we’re here to serve the people of Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana, and getting back on FM has allowed us to do that even better.”

As WOWO celebrates its 100th anniversary, the station has a special gala planned for Monday afternoon. Local, state, and federal officials will be alongside current and former station staffers for an hour-long program celebrating the station’s history, including a video presentation showcasing some of the earliest photos, videos, and audio of the brand.

That isn’t the only thing the station has up its sleeve for its 100th anniversary.

“We have a special presentation high atop ‘WOWO Land’ in downtown Fort Wayne, in which we will be presented with several proclamations from the City of Fort Wayne; Allen County Indiana; the State Of Indiana; and from the U.S. House of Representative and the U.S. Senate,” said Zimney. “Besides the dignitaries, former and present WOWO airstaff will be on hand, as well as members from our audience. 

The celebration won’t end on Monday, however.

“We are working on additional celebrations and surprises for the audience that will play out throughout the rest of the year!” Zimney added.

Some stations have featured more subdued celebrations of their 100th anniversary. But WOWO leaders believed it was an important milestone to commemorate.

“Over the past few years we’ve witnessed some legendary stations reach milestones like WOWO’s 100th.  Some stations have chosen to celebrate with great fanfare and others didn’t mention it on-air,” said Derby. “For us, it was never a question of celebrating it. Not just on WOWO’s actual Birthday of March 31st, but throughout the entire year with features, specials, and events.

“We should never shy away from the age of a station. We should rejoice in the fact that we’ve served a community for a remarkable amount of time and, in turn, Fort Wayne’s listeners, businesses, and non-profit charitable organizations have returned the favor by supporting us.”

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Michael Wilbon: This Isn’t Just About Stephen A. Smith, It’s About the Entire Industry

BSM Staff
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Michael Wilbon: This Isn’t Just About Stephen A. Smith, It’s About the Entire Industry

Michael Wilbon has been a co-host of ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption since the show debuted in 2001 and has been involved with the network’s NBA coverage since 2005. Over the years, he has remained a heralded and respected voice in basketball, following his long career as a journalist for The Washington Post. After 31 years with the publication, he stepped away in 2010.

In an exclusive interview with Outkick, Wilbon opened up about his disappointment with how the past week has been dominated by the public spat between Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith. He expressed frustration over the way the situation has overshadowed other NBA storylines.

“This whole LeBron and Stephen A. stuff, I just can’t,” said a disgusted Wilbon to Outkick. “Enough. Stop it. I’m too old for it. I am too old to consume it.”

Wilbon also noted his confusion over James’ shift in tone during his recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN. He pointed out that, historically, James has been a media darling—always willing to answer questions and engage in conversation.

“He is thoroughly engaged when he talks to you or gives you time. I almost want to give him a pass because it’s just a week in his 20-year career,” said Wilbon. “Some athletes are a******s and haven’t earned the right to be a******s. But I still don’t understand this recent approach by LeBron. I don’t get it. It annoys me because some of these things are beneath him.”

What drew Wilbon’s ire the most, however, was James’ comments about fellow ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst. During his interview with McAfee, James took a verbal jab at Windhorst, which Wilbon found unnecessary and uncharacteristic.

“I’ve been around LeBron when people have asked him about something that happened two decades ago in Ohio. And he would respond by saying, ‘I don’t even remember that. Ask Windy. Windy will know,’” Wilbon said. “That tells me he has a respect for Windhorst that is undeniable. I know he respects Windhorst. So, why say this now?”

As the co-host of Pardon The Interruption, Wilbon made it clear that he refuses to engage in whatever disagreement exists between James and Smith, stating bluntly that he doesn’t give a damn about “the b******t.”

“This isn’t about Stephen A. It’s the entire industry,” explained Wilbon. “That’s what I want to remind LeBron. Our business is just s**t some days. It just is.”

Beyond the media-driven feud, Wilbon also attributed part of the problem to social media, arguing that it has amplified the situation unnecessarily. He pointed out that modern athletes seem more concerned with social media criticism than previous generations.

“They pay much too much attention to it. They are on it too much. If you can’t handle it, get off it,” said Wilbon. “I realized I didn’t want to consume the bullshit. I’m too old for that. Everything is distorted. There’s too much glorification, there’s too much criticism, there’s too much everything. It’s an exercise in excess.”

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ESPN Tabs Erin Dolan as In-Game Betting Analyst for UFL Broadcasts

BSM Staff
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ESPN Tabs Erin Dolan as In-Game Betting Analyst for UFL Broadcasts

The United Football League kicks off its second season this weekend on a range of networks, including FOX Sports, ESPN, and ABC. As the weekend’s kickoff approaches, ESPN’s Erin Dolan is set to make her debut as an in-game betting analyst for the network, according to a report by Front Office Sports.

According to the report, Dolan will be featured on-air for pregame, in-game, and halftime betting analysis during ESPN and ABC’s broadcasts of UFL games.

“Because this hasn’t really been done before throughout an entire broadcast, there’s probably going to be a little bit of growing pains the first couple of weeks, but then we’ll get it down,” Dolan told Front Office Sports.

Dolan joined ESPN in December 2021 as a sports betting analyst. She appears regularly on ESPN’s sports betting news and information program, ESPN BET Live, as well as Sunday NFL Countdown, ESPN’s NFL pregame show. Additionally, she contributes to other programs and segments across ESPN television, radio, and digital platforms.

Before joining ESPN, Dolan worked as on-air talent at FanDuel and PointsBet sportsbooks, where she created sports betting content for their social channels and various programming. Furthermore, she co-hosted a weekly YouTube and Twitch show, Girls Who Bet, participated in B/R Betting’s The Group Chat, and hosted The Early Line weekdays from 7-9 a.m. ET on SiriusXM.

During each broadcast, Dolan will share her insights, provide picks, report on betting tickets, and analyze popular prop bets. Additionally, she will deliver live updates on major betting moments in real time.

This move represents a significant step for ESPN as it seeks to promote its own ESPN Bet app, which has struggled to gain market share in several states where it is available. Notably, Penn Entertainment currently holds a 2026 opt-out clause in its 10-year deal to operate the sportsbook app.

Looking ahead, Dolan told Front Office Sports she is excited about the opportunity to try something innovative and groundbreaking for the network.

“I think I will try to make it as digestible as possible and also speak a lot more slowly than I would in an ‘ESPN Bet’ when I get amped up about a bet,” said Dolan. “I think numbers aren’t very digestible when you just hear numbers being spewed at you. So, breaking it down more from a learning perspective would be more of the goal for me.”

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Charles Barkley: LeBron James Is Too Big To Be That Type of Bully

BSM Staff
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Charles Barkley: LeBron James Is Too Big To Be That Type of Bully

Following a tough loss by the Los Angeles Lakers last night, Inside The NBA analyst Charles Barkley joined the Dan Patrick Show on Friday morning to react not only to the outcome of the game but also to the ongoing public feud between Lakers superstar LeBron James and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith.

Barkley, known for his honesty and unfiltered opinions, didn’t hold back, stating that both James and Smith had a rough week.

“He’s (LeBron James) too big to be that type of bully,” said Barkley on the Dan Patrick Show. “To bully Stephen A. (Smith) and Brian Windhorst. Brian Windhorst is a sweet person; he’s just trying to do this thing. I always liked LeBron, but him being a bully, it turned me off.”

While Barkley was disappointed in how James handled the week—particularly his criticisms of Smith, Windhorst, and the media covering the NBA—he also emphasized that Smith was not blameless in the situation.

“Stephen A. (Smith), the way he reacted was so lame and weak,” noted Barkley. “I blame LeBron for starting the bullying. Going on Pat’s (McAfee) show just bullying people. But you know LeBron, he’s a control freak. He knows everything he’s doing. He knew when he walked up to Stephen A., he knew what he was doing.”

Despite his critique, Barkley made it clear that he considers Smith a “good dude” and believes his responses to LeBron’s comments were beneath him. He stressed that the entire situation reflected poorly on both individuals.

“I’m not sure what Stephen A. was trying to do, but he just made it worse and worse and worse,” stated Barkley. “What the hell are you doing?”

At that point, Patrick brought up Barkley’s own past, noting that while Barkley had been critical of people during his playing days, he never sought out attention. Patrick then contrasted that with Smith and James, arguing that both seemed to be actively fueling the drama for attention.

“In my day, any publicity was good publicity,” Barkley said. “The problem now is when you put BS out there, every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Louise have an opinion, and they’re going to make it worse.”

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Nielsen To Stop Ratings For Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

BMM Staff
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Nielsen To Stop Ratings For Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Beginning with the spring measurement period, Nielsen will no longer measure and provide ratings for the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, market. The two-book market was ranked number 78, with just one subscriber for the Fall 2024 book.

RadioInsight obtained a note to the market reading, “Effective with the start of the Spring 2025 survey, the Lakeland-Winter Haven Radio Metro was canceled. Therefore, usage of audience estimates for Lakeland-Winter Haven Metro data must cease as of August 1, 2025. Canceled Radio Metros may contain outdated (stale) data that are no longer current. Subscribing clients may only use the data for up to six months following the final data release subject to the canceled Radio Metro’s previous frequency of measurement.”

The market has a population of 664,000 people. Radio groups operating in the region, mainly out of Tampa, include Audacy, Beasley Media Group, Cox Media Group, Hall Communications, and iHeartMedia.

Lakeland-Winter Haven is the only market where Nielsen will cease measurement. All markets will move up one place in the rankings. Neilsen has canceled 20 markets over the past five years.

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ESPN Announces New Original Series on the Kansas City Chiefs

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces New Original Series on the Kansas City Chiefs

ESPN, Disney+ and Skydance Sports are teaming up to produce a six-episode documentary series on the Kansas City Chiefs, the companies announced Friday. The ESPN Original Series, which will premiere later this year on ESPN and Disney+, will provide an in-depth look at the franchise’s legacy and its extraordinary 2024 season.

“ESPN and Disney+ know that sports fans are interested in stories that take them beyond the X’s and O’s, and this series will explore the legacy of the Chiefs franchise while also showcasing the emotional highs and lows of building a championship-winning team,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content. “From the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes to the leadership of Andy Reid and the passion of Chiefs Kingdom, this project will showcase the drama, intensity and heart that make this team a global phenomenon.”

Produced by Words + Pictures in association with Skydance Sports, NFL Films, 2PM Productions and Foolish Club Studios, the series will offer exclusive access to the team and explore its place in NFL history. Kristen Lappas of Words + Pictures, known for “Giannis: The Marvelous Journey” and “Dream On,” is set to direct. Several members of “The Last Dance” production team, including executive producers Connor Schell, Jason Hehir, Libby Geist and Aaron Cohen, along with showrunner Matt Maxson, are also involved.

“No team in sports has been more captivating over the last decade than the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Connor Schell, executive producer and founder of Words + Pictures. “To get the chance to go behind-the-scenes of the team’s modern-day dynasty with its signature stars, and weave that story together with the Chiefs’ history and incomparable legacy of Lamar Hunt, whose imprint on the club and the league is still felt every Sunday, is a remarkable opportunity. We’re so excited to be working with ESPN, Skydance Sports, 2PM Productions and everyone at the Chiefs organization on this series.”

Filmed throughout the 2024 season, the documentary will provide an inside look at the Chiefs as they completed a franchise-record 15-win regular season, secured their third consecutive Lamar Hunt Trophy as AFC champions and made a third straight Super Bowl appearance in New Orleans. The series will highlight the team’s unprecedented success over the last decade, including annual playoff appearances from 2015 to 2024, nine straight AFC West Division titles, seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances and five Super Bowl berths in the past six years, culminating in three Lombardi Trophy victories.

Through interviews with players, coaches and executives, the series will provide a behind-the-scenes perspective on the team’s success while also delving into its long-standing cultural impact in Kansas City and beyond. The Chiefs’ 65-year history will be explored, from the team’s origins in Dallas under founder Lamar Hunt to its emergence as an NFL powerhouse.

The documentary will also feature rare footage from the organization’s archives, combined with personal stories and never-before-seen moments that have defined the franchise’s rise to dominance. With unprecedented access, the series aims to offer a comprehensive and intimate look at one of the most successful teams in recent sports history.

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Jemele Hill: LeBron James Gave Stephen A. Smith, ESPN ‘Exactly What They Wanted’

BSM Staff
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Jemele Hill: LeBron James Gave Stephen A. Smith, ESPN ‘Exactly What They Wanted’

Following an unexpected courtside meeting at Crypto.com Arena a few weeks ago, the disagreement between Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith seemed to escalate this week. James appeared for a sit-down interview on The Pat McAfee Show, which airs on ESPN directly after First Take, the program for which Smith serves as a featured commentator and executive producer. During this discussion, James explained his belief that Smith missed the point and would be thrilled that he was talking about him again. Jemele Hill, a former ESPN personality and SportsCenter host, believed that placing James on this platform was intentional and allowed him to convey this message over the same airwaves.

“Pat McAfee, since coming to ESPN, he’s one of the big dogs in the kennel,” Hill said. “He’s become a face of ESPN, very popular, very big platform, and so I think LeBron purposely went on someone who would, on some degree, be a professional competitor. Yes, they’re both on the same team, but you got two big dogs between him and Stephen A. Smith.”

Hill outlined that James tranced Smith during the interview, conveying that the ESPN commentator was on a type of tour similar to Taylor Swift talking about what took place between them. The criticism in this situation was in Smith talking about James as a father, and he made his displeasure known through the courtside altercation and subsequent commentary. Although Hill does not watch First Take on most days, she made sure to tune in on Thursday morning to watch Smith respond, during which he delivered a protracted diatribe disseminating his thoughts on the occurrence.

“Look, from a purely broadcast perspective, I have to give Stephen A. his props because this is hard to do,” Hill said. “That man talked barely breathing with very few pauses for 20 straight minutes about responding to every single thing that LeBron said and also adding his own sauce and own opinion, observations, like adding more fuel to the fire.”

Hill explained that it seems the source of what is taking place comes from the fact that Smith does not acknowledge James as the greatest player in basketball history, instead placing that distinction on former Chicago Bulls guard and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan. During his monologue on the Thursday edition of the show, he explained his rationale behind selecting Jordan and highlighting how he feels James can be passive aggressive. In viewing this from a media perspective though, Hill can see where the benefits lie in the content domain.

“I felt like LeBron lost the plot in the sense that he gave ESPN and Stephen A. Smith exactly what they wanted,” Hill said. “This is not about what was said, the back and forth. This is about leverage, this is about strategy and all of those things.”

With Smith recently agreeing to a five-year contract reportedly worth at least $100 million to remain at ESPN, Hill articulated that James is essentially validating that the company made the right decision with this deal. On top of that, this is signaling the reach and relevance of Smith in the current media environment, and consumers are recognizing that what he says matters surrounding the world of sports. Hill surmised that James was petty about the situation and trying to enact a chess move where he could talk about Smith and provide his viewpoints on what transpired.

“You feel like, ‘Man, this dude that had a lot to say, I didn’t like what he had to say about Bronnie, let me fire back by going on another ESPN show on his network, essentially coming inside enemy lines and firing the missile from inside the house,’” Hill said of James. “The call was coming inside the house – that’s what he was thinking, and I understand that strategy, and I understand being so bothered that you would do that. But see now, again, now you have given Stephen A. and ESPN hella headlines – like they can milk this for God knows how long, constantly in the news cycle.”

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Whitney Allen Brings Everyone To Country’s Big Tent Party

Jeff Lynn
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Whitney Allen Brings Everyone To Country’s Big Tent Party

Whitney Allen hosts “The Big Time With Whitney Allen,” a syndicated Country radio show that airs six nights a week. She was bitten by the radio bug at a young age when her parents bought her a transistor radio.

The defining moment was when Allen heard another radio personality who, according to her, sounded like she wanted to steal your boyfriend.

“I had taken the KISS broadcast workshop in Los Angeles, and I was 16, and there was, of course, no one who was going to hire a 16-year-old in LA radio. I was too young to move out to another city.” 

“My friend was going to school in Humboldt, and I said, you know what, I’ll go up there with you, and maybe I can get something in radio there. Humboldt County is way up, really close to the Oregon border. So, I remember we were driving in; it was late at night. I want to say it was around 10:30 – 11.

“It was raining because it was Humboldt, and this woman came on the radio, and it was all a sultry voice and all talking like this. Don’t get me wrong, she had a beautiful voice, but I remember turning to my friend, and I said, I would be so uncomfortable if I was sitting here with a dude because she sounds like she wants to steal my boyfriend. And if I can get a job up here, I promise I will never sound like that. And lo and behold, I got a job up there. And the first job was running tapes.”

On the way to syndication, Allen had Los Angeles radio stops, including Pirate Radio 100.3 KQLZ. Of course, I had to ask what working for Scott Shannon was like.

“Unbelievable. I mean, I worked in San Diego and worked in a larger market by then. But Scott, on the air, pronounced every word perfectly. If you ever listen to Scott Shannon off the air, it’s totally different. He would run around, and it was like a hit-and-run.” 

“Scott would be talking to you and keep walking. And you were like, wait, what’d you say? No, we really didn’t hear what you said, Scott. He was very fair. He was very fun. But for me, it was very nerve-wracking because when I got into radio and picked up my very first Radio and Records, Scott Shannon and Mason Dixon were the first names I ever read.”

“We ended up getting into a couple of fights to the point where I followed him into the bathroom one day. And the thing about it, though, is that he would totally admit it. I’m not going to say when he was wrong, but he would admit when you were right.”

“He’s not someone to hold a grudge. He’s someone who’d hotline you, which would kill me. I hated that.”

Allen’s entry into syndication started in 2005 with a one-hour daily program called “America’s Hot List.”

“Lists at that point were really hot. David Letterman had the top 10 list, and USA Today always had their top 5 or top 10 of something. So I was like, why can’t we take the top 10 biggest songs of the day and run it along with some of the biggest stories of the day? I could be America’s favorite fast food or the top 10 movies, you name it.”

“We didn’t have a lot of success with the show, but it got our foot in the syndication door. We were not about to give up that deal. So, when the three years were up, about six months beforehand, we decided to offer a Saturday program.”

Allen initially offered the Saturday show for free.

“We will do a Saturday night show for free for six months. And if you like it, then you can re-sign us. So we started doing the Saturday show with, I think, 12 stations. A year later, we were up to over 50.”

Allen was working at KZLA then, and with the station suddenly changing formats, she had more time on her hands.

“All of a sudden, we had all this time. That was August, and by January, we had the five-hour program ready to go. We were able to offer a six-night-a-week program. Saturday night was strictly up-tempo. It definitely sounded like a party sort of thing. The Monday through Friday was just more of a standard, but still, a fun program.”  

“I found out that a lot of people who didn’t know Country music thought that the Country audience only listened to Country music and went to Country shows. And that was all they did. In reality, it is a well-educated audience who spent more money at the movies than any other demographic, which I always thought was kind of interesting.”

“So we wanted to be very topical and on top of the news and even Hollywood. Since I started the show, I’ve been to middle America, and I can see why they think Hollywood is insane because name a place as far away from Hollywood as somewhere like Arkansas, a whole different world.”

“They have the same TV shows and the same movies. There were similarities across the country, and if we tap into that and what people were hot on and build a show around that and the music, I think we were really successful at it.”

Along the way, Allen has landed numerous awards, including National Personality of the Year. She has also been nominated for both ACM and CMA National Personality of the Year, is in the Country Radio Hall of Fame, and won a Gracie for her “crisis coverage” of the Route 91 tragedy in Las Vegas.

“What was interesting is that we were set to do the show from Route 91, and it was not that far in advance. I want to say three weeks beforehand, they’d sold out. And so they said we sold out, we don’t really need you.” 

“And we were like, well, damn, we really wanted to go do the show. And then, a week beforehand, we were at the Thomas Rhett show, and we got word that Route 91 had changed their mind. But it was at that point it was too late.”

“But my producer, Jackie, still went. I was getting ready to go to bed. And I saw that there were shots in Las Vegas. This was before the news had anything. I started to worry about her and began calling her cell phone.”

“Ended up, she had just left. Jason (Aldean) was on stage. She just left and had gone across the street. Thousands of people had done the same thing. She had been ushered into the Carrot Top Theater as a refuge. There was no cell signal in there. She was safe the whole time but was still way too close.”

“It was weird. Even here in Los Angeles, anyone who I talked to knew someone who was hit or killed at that festival. People come from all over the country. That was on a Sunday night. And then we went back on the air on Monday night, and people started calling with their stories from around the country. What a horrible thing.”

The news that Allen was to be inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame was somewhat deceptive.

“R.J. Curtis called me via Zoom under the guise of my favorite moments ever at Country Radio Seminar. We did this 20 30-minute conversation on CRS, and the whole thing never crossed my mind. And right at the end, he said I have one more question for you. What’s it like to be the newest member of the Country Radio Hall of Fame?”

“I couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth. Because I don’t win ACM or CMAs, I’m not that person. So, there’s no way I ever thought I was going into the Hall of Fame.”

I asked Allen if there was anything that kept her up at night.

“Sometimes, it’s how I keep the show relevant. Sometimes, it’s what the hell’s going on in politics. Sometimes it’s, what the hell? There are so many animals on the streets that are not being taken care of. If it’s raining, where are they? What is going on?

Any final thoughts?

“I’m up for an ACM, which is crazy, right? I’ve been nominated a couple of times for ACM and CMA, and I’ve never won one. And I’ve always been kind of like it doesn’t matter. I really didn’t get into the business because of awards because when I got into the business, I didn’t even know there were awards.”

“I wouldn’t mind having one. I have my Gracie. I have my Hall of Fame plaque. I have the perfect place for one. Along with my grandfather’s bowling trophy from, I think it’s 1926.”

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.

YouTube Podcast Head Kai Chuk Exits

BNM Staff
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YouTube Podcast Head Kai Chuk Exits

YouTube has grown into the biggest podcast platform on the planet. Now its leader, Kai Chuk, is departing the company.

Chuk has overseen its podcast strategy since 2021. Under his direction, the platform eclipsed Spotify and Apple as the most widely used podcast platform. Originally joining the company in 2012, Kai Chuk served as a media partnerships manager before taking the role of Director of Podcasting, the first person to hold the title, at YouTube.

“YouTube is now the most frequently used service for listening to podcasts in the US, following years of investments to improve the podcast experience on YouTube,” YouTube said in a statement to Tubefilter. “To better serve podcasters on YouTube, we’re bringing the Podcast Partnerships team together with the News and Civics Partnerships teams. We’re grateful to Kai Chuk for all his contributions over the years.”

Tim Katz currently serves as the leader of the company’s News and Civics Partnerships unit.

The change in leadership comes as the platform is in the midst of developing a feature that would allow for host-read ads to be inserted within YouTube videos dynamically, similar to other platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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.

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