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As History Disappears, Radio Needs to Remember to Preserve Its Past

Perry Michael Simon
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As History Disappears, Radio Needs to Remember to Preserve Its Past

History is disappearing. That’s a literal statement, although I’m not suggesting that everything from the past won’t exist in the future. What’s disappearing is evidence, the recording of events of all kinds — from radio, to television and feature films, for posterity. Part of it is technological, part of it is commercial, and part of it is just that, as the song said, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.

The latest example is cultural, with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s announcement that those DVDs produced in 2006-08 of Warner movies and cartoons are now unplayable due to manufacturing defects and that they’ll replace the discs if they’re available. That’s a big if. The rights to some of the movies may no longer be in Warner’s hands, and it’s also the case that Warner may not really care to re-release some titles because there’s insufficient demand for them, including some Looney Tunes collections which include cartoons that just aren’t seen anymore, anywhere, unless someone ripped them to YouTube. So much for physical media protecting you against streamers dumping content at will and making it unavailable through any means.

We assume that the internet has made everything available to everyone, but that’s just not the case. A lot of material has been lost because the rights holders don’t see a commercial market for it. You might think that news is not the same, that we’re chronicling our history more than ever. Maybe we are, through social media and “citizen journalism,” but none of that is guaranteed to be around in the future.

Take Disney, for example, which just shuttered what was left of 538 (the former FiveThirtyEight before someone decided spelling it out was too much to bear), the data vertical that bounced from Nate Silver to ESPN to The New York Times to ESPN to… oblivion, it seems, because the overlords at Disney decided not just to pull the plug and fire the staff but to also wipe any evidence of the site’s existence off the internet.  All those polls, all that analysis, gone for good. Oh, well.

News sites… well, there’s the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, which rights holders have fought for years. Otherwise, we’re at the mercy of the site owners, and that’s trouble right there. Besides, which version of an edited and/or updated story gets saved?

What would we get if, say, The New York Times went back and redid Walter Duranty’s stories to edit out the glowing reviews of the Soviet Union, or The Washington Post redacted the names of some of the Watergate principals? They can, which doesn’t do much for trust. We do have Newspapers.com and its virtual version of newspaper archive microfiche; it’s expensive but worth it, because I’ve lost track of how many forgotten details of stories I found with a quick search of a small-town paper. But all of that can go away at the whim of ownership, and then what?

Oh, and radio. Yes, people collect scoped airchecks of old Top 40 radio, and “recorded transcriptions” of the Golden Age exist, but stations have never been in the business of recording and archiving everything they put out every day, and they aren’t going to start now with their private equity overlords (and creditors) watching every penny. Decades and decades worth of radio news, sports, entertainment, and even commercials are gone, unless in the hands of collectors.

I can’t even play you what the radio stations where I worked sounded like back then, because airchecks were taped over and lost to the ages. (Individual hosts may have kept tapes, but YOU try and get them in one place and archive them all.)

And if we’re looking at an unreliable, hit-or-miss archive of news coverage of important events like, oh, what’s going on in Washington and Palm Beach right now, what will history look like for your grandkids? Maybe it’ll be like the 1800s, where we can piece together from written accounts what was going on; maybe it’ll be like everything before Gutenberg, guesswork based on evidence from archaeology and science. Maybe someone will carbon-date Ryan Seacrest and extrapolate the history of his many jobs.

We don’t know what the future will bring, or if we have a future to worry about, but we thought we were videotaping and collecting everything in news and culture and it turns out we don’t know if we can see every Bugs Bunny cartoon.

These are interesting times on all fronts. Someday, people will look back on 2025 and ask what the hell happened and how, whether it’s political or movies and TV or what life was like back then. It’ll probably be a good idea to save everything so they know the truth. At the very least, they’ll get to make fun of our hairstyles and clothes.

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.

The Interview: Nashville’s Morning News with Dan Mandis on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN

Garrett Searight
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The Interview: Nashville’s Morning News with Dan Mandis on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN

At many news/talk stations, the morning show is strictly dedicated to the most pertinent news of the area, state, and country. But that’s not the case for Nashville’s Morning News with Dan Mandis on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN.

It is a stereotypical news/talk radio show, driven by the host’s opinions more than interviews with local leaders, etc…there is still a news wheel that the show follows, but it isn’t as news-dominated as many other shows in the daypart.

So, while the show is somewhat atypical, is the interview style from Dan Mandis? I pulled an interview he conducted with Rep. Scott Desjarlais (R-TN) after President Donald Trump’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress last week to find out.

The first question, in my opinion, highlights that it isn’t a news-dominant show. Mandis began the conversation by asking what was the bigger story: the great speech by Donald Trump or the reaction by the Democrats. Not exactly an unbiased question. And I don’t care about the bias, to be frank. Dan Mandis hosts a conservative-focused news/talk show. That’s his right. But it does highlight the notion that this isn’t your straight-down-the-middle morning news program.

The next question from the SuperTalk 99.7 WTN was a good one, whether you agree with the politics of the show and guest or not. He noted that the representative got to speak with Trump following his address. Mandis asked what the President’s feeling were in the immediate aftermath of the speech. Fantastic question. Truly.

By asking that question, Dan Mandis got valuable insight for his listeners from a first-hand account to how the leader of the free world felt about the biggest news story of the week. It is really easy to overcook that thought process in this type of situation. Sometimes, less is more. This is a less is more question and a phenomenal one by Mandis.

The next portion of the interview was something I don’t especially love in an interview unless you’re asking your subject to react to audio they haven’t heard, but Mandis played a clip of Trump’s speech calling out Democrats for their failure to celebrate his accomplishments. In that moment, it feels almost as if you’re using the subject as a co-host rather than an expert.

And that should be the goal, right? In this instance, Rep. Scott Desjarlais should be on the show as an expert, not as a buddy or a friend of the program, in my view. It didn’t lead to a great reaction from the Congressman, it didn’t lead into a strong question, it was a chance for Mandis to make an additional point about the topic. Which is fine, but you have plenty of other time outside the interview to accomplish that. It breaks one of the Seven Deadly Sins of Interviewing, which is sharing your remarks rather than asking your subject an insightful question.

After re-setting the interview, Dan Mandis continued his remarks by sharing that the show has shared plenty of audio of Democratic pundits sharing their disappointment about how the party’s elected leaders reacted to the speech. He said he believed those members of Congress would think they “shanked” the response on Tuesday night.

That’s just more remarks. And, again, you have plenty of time to share your opinion throughout the show. There is only a finite amount of time you have to interview a sitting member of Congress. Additionally, you only have a finite amount of time with your listener.

Mandis then followed up remarks by Desjarlais by asking about the situation between the United States and Ukraine, and asked “What do you think — from your perspective — is going to be next?”

Another good question from the Nashville’s Morning News host. If the Trump speech was Topic 1A, which it was, the conflict between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was #2. And again, getting the insight from someone who is significantly closer than virtually anyone else available is good work by Mandis.

The final question included a question from one of Desjarlais’ constituents about executive orders. That was a good, engaging move by Mandis to give sort of the “last one for the road”, so to speak, to one of his audience members. It feels empowering from a listener’s perspective to have that opportunity.

Overall, when Dan Mandis asked questions of the guest, the answers were insanely valuable. The comments were likely used on newscasts throughout the day on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, and probably also elsewhere inside the market. The questions provided valuable insight to the audience from an elected official.

The Congressman was able to share his perspective on the two largest topics in the news, which is ultimately all you can ask for. It just included some comments from the Nashville’s Morning News host that listeners needed to filter through to get there.

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.

Netflix CCO Bela Bajaria Explains Shared Mindset With WWE

BSM Staff
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Netflix CCO Bela Bajaria Explains Shared Mindset With WWE

Netflix and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) signed a massive ten-year, $5 billion agreement in January 2024, it signaled the streaming platform’s first major foray into rights agreements with professional sports or sports entertainment. Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said at the time that the partnership between the two entities would create tremendous value for both their audiences.

With a reported 4.9 million global viewers tuning in for the debut of Monday Night Raw on Netflix in January—2.6 million of whom were in the United States—the show has consistently ranked among the platform’s most-watched programs each week. Bajaria, along with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, spoke at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference on Friday to explain why WWE was the ideal choice for Netflix’s first full-time rights agreement.

“I think we have a very similar mindset or goals,” Bajaria said. “Entertaining a large audience, a big fan base, multi-generational. Knowing that it’s about entertainment first.”

WWE has seen a massive rise in revenue, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and viewership over the past several years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Since taking over as WWE’s Chief Content Officer in 2022, Levesque has transformed the organization into a global brand, with more WWE events now taking place overseas. This made Netflix with its worldwide distribution, a perfect fit for WWE.

“Normally, we would do non-televised live events, maybe one or two television shows from there (overseas),” Levesque said. “Right now, we’re going three weeks back-to-back of live events, non-televised. But also, each week, Raw and SmackDown are coming from international markets and markets that we wouldn’t necessarily go to.”

Levesque noted that the partnership with Netflix has helped WWE identify the most important markets for its brand, allowing for greater international expansion than ever before.

“WWE has characters that people love. You’re invested in it,” Bajaria said. “You also surprise them and bring new guests in, or there’s a really surprising storyline. So I just think we’re so like-minded in the goal and ambition—honestly, of entertaining the world.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Ryan Lang Steps Down As 107.3 Alternative Cleveland Morning Host

BMM Staff
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Ryan Lang Steps Down As 107.3 Alternative Cleveland Morning Host

107.3 WNWV Alternative Cleveland morning co-host Ryan Lang has left the station for a position with The American Red Cross.

107.3 Alternative Cleveland Program Director Brady Marks posted on Facebook, “It is with the heaviest heart, but also so much hope for the future, that today I say goodbye to Ryan as my cohost (but hello to a lifelong friend). He has accepted an amazing opportunity working for the Red Cross, and I wish him the absolute best. You experience a lot with someone when you sit in a room with them for 5 hours every day, and I am forever grateful for our time together. He has taught me so much about this industry, having such a strong work ethic, waking up at the butt crack of dawn, valuing family above all else, navigating through life’s challenges, and so much more.”

Lang previously held positions with Rubber City Radio Group in the newsroom and as contributor to the “Scott and Sarah Show” on Country WQMX, Akron.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Mark Shapiro: ‘Stephen A. Smith Draws Eyeballs’

BSM Staff
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Mark Shapiro: ‘Stephen A. Smith Draws Eyeballs’

Stephen A. Smith recently agreed to a five-year extension with ESPN that is reportedly worth at least $100 million, a contract that will keep him on the airwaves as a member of First Take and have him appear on network programming throughout the year. Smith expressed his gratitude for his colleagues at ESPN on the program earlier Friday and his excitement about remaining with the network for years to come. Mark Shapiro, the president of Endeavor Group Holdings, was involved in the negotiations as one of Smith’s representatives and spoke about the deal during an appearance at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference on Friday.

Shapiro explained that Smith is a synonymous presence with the network and that it is in his DNA. On top of him remaining on First Take, Shapiro shared that Smith will also be appearing on ESPN programming specifically around the NBA and hopefully more surrounding the NFL as well. Moreover, he explained that the deal also grants him the chance to continue spreading his wings in politics and news coverage as well. Contessa Brewer, a CNBC correspondent who was moderating the panel, remarked that media has become an ad-pressured environment with costs being scrutinized and was curious to know how ESPN would receive a return on investment in this deal.

“It’s really synonymous, or I should say analogous to doing a deal with the NFL,” Shapiro said. “When you are determining what rights you’re going to go after as a programmer, as a network, as a platform, you’re looking to those properties that bring you reach and engagement, that are good for your brand but also good for your business, and Stephen A. Smith draws eyeballs. He’s unique in that sense. There aren’t a lot of talent left these days on air that are of the unicorn ilk that he is.”

Shapiro explained that people watch to see Smith in the manner that they may tune in to view the NFL since they are a fan of the league. In fact, Shapiro remarked that Smith is polarizing, energetic, hard working and cuts through a variety of sports, going beyond a mere sampling.

“That audience at the end of the day is what is the foundation and fuels these businesses, and if a property is losing engagement or losing audience, losing viewership, losing attendance, maybe you’re selling,” Shapiro said. “But if you’re on the way up the way Stephen A. Smith is, the way the NFL is, the way I like to think the UFC and WWE are, then you’re buying.”

Earlier in the panel, Shapiro spoke about the evolution of sports television and how properties are moving towards streaming after growing on linear television. Despite recognizing that streaming is the future and a dwindling number of homes that receive pay television service, he defined the current state as straddling between the two. Shapiro feels that the ecosystem will be operating in this manner for a while and that companies have a proverbial “winning formula” if they have content that can be distributed on both platforms.

For example, WWE distributes its programming on both linear and streaming platforms through deals with Netflix and NBCUniversal for its Raw and Smackdown properties, respectively. Shapiro serves as the president and chief executive officer of TKO Group Holdings, which is the parent company of WWE and UFC, the latter of which is reportedly targeting remuneration of more than $1 billion per annum in its next media rights deal.

“Having the networks to get the big reach, the big audience, really capture the casual fans,” Shapiro said. “You see it across the board – NBA alike, your ratings are higher, your viewership is higher when you’re allowed to exercise broadcast, but you still need streaming to capture that younger audience and where the business is growing.”

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.

‘Wango Tango’ 2025 Announced By 102.7 KISS-FM Los Angeles

BMM Staff
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‘Wango Tango’ 2025 Announced By 102.7 KISS-FM Los Angeles

Top 40 102.7 KIIS-FM Los Angeles is set to host its annual “Wango Tango” concert on Saturday, May 10. Among the performers are Doja Cat, Meghan Trainor, DJ David Guetta, KATSEYE, NMIXX, xikers, A2O MAY, and Hearts2Hearts.

Ryan Seacrest will host the show with a special sunset performance by Gwen Stefani.

KISS FM PD Beata Murphy said “We’re thrilled to bring Wango Tango back, knowing fans have been eagerly awaiting its return. This year, we’re elevating the experience with an unforgettable day of music, energy, and beachside vibes—everything that defines SoCal. We’re also shaking things up by featuring some of the biggest artists with extended set times, unlike ever before.”

iHeartMedia Regional President Paul Corvino added, “Wango Tango has become a legendary event for Southern California music fans. Something they’ve looked forward to year after year. Our partnership with Code Four is taking it to the next level, bringing it back bigger and better than ever for an unforgettable fan experience at the beach.”

iHeartMedia has teamed up with Code Four for this year’s “Wango Tango.” Code Four is recognized for organizing significant events, including the Pacific Airshow and Afterburner Music Festival.

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.

Anthony Cumia: We’re Going to Make News Funny and Interesting on New 77 WABC Show

BNM Staff
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Anthony Cumia: We’re Going to Make News Funny and Interesting on New 77 WABC Show

77 WABC is set to debut a new program hosted by former Opie & Anthony host Anthony Cumia this weekend. He says it won’t be like other news/talk shows.

During an appearance with the station’s morning host, Sid Rosenberg, Cumia was asked what his show will sound like.

“The state of this planet is comedy,” said Cumia. “It is interesting and compelling. The things that are going on in this world, we can talk about them, make them interesting, make them funny. That’s what you’re going to hear on Sunday. What’s been happening in every aspect entertainment, politics — of course — and with that Anthony Cumia little twist to it.”

The Anthony Cumia Show will debut this Sunday. It will air from 8-10 PM ET each Sunday.

Cumia previously hosted afternoons at WNEW from 1998 to 2002, before Opie & Anthony were fired by Infinity Broadcasting for what the company considered an uncouth promotion. It was one of several times Cumia exited a broadcasting job under similar circumstances. Cumia was fired in 2014 by SiriusXM for sharing racially charged tweets after claiming to be the victim of an attack by a Black woman.

Anthony Cumia had spent a decade with the satellite broadcaster, joining then XM Radio in 2004. Other radio stops include working at WAAF in Boston.

Since his high-profile ouster from SiriusXM, Cumia has hosted a digital show on his subscription-based Compound Media. Since 2021, he has hosted CompoundCensored with VICE Media co-founder Gavin McInnes.

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.

iHeartPodcast Announces 2025 Awards Show Presenters

BMM Staff
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iHeartPodcast Announces 2025 Awards Show Presenters

iHeartMedia has announced the presenters for the 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards, Monday at SXSW in Austin, TX. Hosted by Jack O’Brien and Miles Gray of “The Daily Zeitgeist” podcast, the event will recognize influential voices and creators in Podcasting.

Presenters for the 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards will include Annaleigh Ashford and Melissa Moore, Cam Jordan, Chelsea Handler, Dennis Quaid, Ed Helms, Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgiraff, Joe Manganiello, Kyle MacLachlan, Sarah Spain, Sophia Bush and more. 

The event is set to feature a diverse lineup of nominees and unexpected appearances from celebrity guests. The ceremony will be broadcast on selected iHeartMedia Radio stations nationwide, with an audio stream available exclusively on the iHeartPodcast Channel through the iHeartRadio app. Additionally, viewers can access a video stream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook channels starting at 10 p.m. (CT).

The event will then be available on demand following the initial livestream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube channel.

A complete list of categories and nominees can be found here.

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.

Stephen A. Smith: ‘I’m Happy’ I Will Be at ESPN ‘For Years to Come’

BSM Staff
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Stephen A. Smith: ‘I’m Happy’ I Will Be at ESPN ‘For Years to Come’

Stephen A. Smith has agreed to a five-year contract extension with ESPN that will extend his tenure at the company past two decades. Under the new agreement with the network, Smith will continue working on First Take, where he is currently the featured commentator and executive producer of the show, along with appearing across other ESPN programming. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that the deal is worth a total of at least $100 million and also results in Smith stepping away from the NBA Countdown studio program. Furthermore, he reportedly could appear on the Monday Night Football pregame show or other marquee events.

“Stephen A. works incredibly hard to elevate the sports conversation day-in and day-out and we are grateful he will remain at ESPN,” Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, said in a statement. “He is a difference maker, and fans are captivated by his deep sports knowledge, strong opinions and unmistakable flair.”

To open the second hour of the Friday morning edition of First Take on ESPN, Smith spoke about his new deal with the company. Within his remarks, he demonstrated his gratitude towards being able to remain with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company under this five-year deal. Smith is going to continue working on First Take, extending his time on the program to over 15 years amid this contract that keeps him on the network airwaves.

“I got a lot of things that I want to achieve, a lot of things that I want to accomplish in my life that extend beyond this show and beyond the world of sports, but it all starts here,” Smith said. “I’m always happy to be a part of the Worldwide Leader, I’m always proud to be associated with this network, and I’m happy that I’m going to be here for a lengthy period of time for years to come.”

Smith articulated that the deal took too long, a sentiment shared by First Take host Molly Qerim, who explained that she saw his mood swings. In the end though, he was glad the contract was completed and expressed his thanks to all of the contributors on show and various executives within The Walt Disney Company. Smith also took time to thank Qerim, who is approaching 10 years as the host of First Take, before moving on to the next debate.

“You’re my partner in crime,” Smith said to Qerim. “We ride together, and I really, really appreciate all that you’ve meant to the show and all that you’ve meant to me, and I’m really, really happy to be staying on board.”

Smith returned to ESPN in 2012 after a previous four-year stint with the company and has appeared on First Take as a featured commentator since that time. After sitting opposite Skip Bayless for four years, he worked with Max Kellerman and helped the show continue to proliferate in the ratings. When Kellerman departed First Take in September 2021, the show changed formats to welcome a variety of contributors to debate Smith on topics within the sports world. Over the last few years, the program has introduced voices who debate Smith on a weekly basis, including Shannon Sharpe, Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo and Cam Newton.

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.

ABC News Promotes Aaron Katersky to Chief Investigative Correspondent

BNM Staff
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ABC News Promotes Aaron Katersky to Chief Investigative Correspondent

ABC News has announced a new promotion for longtime reporter Aaron Katersky.

He has been named the new Chief Investigative Correspondent for the network. Katersky joined the network in 2003 as a correspondent for ABC News Radio and embedded himself with the United States Marine Corps. as it fought the war on terror in Iraq. Prior to joining ABC News, he worked at radio stations in Houston, Syracuse, and in Southeastern Massachusetts.

“Aaron is a one-of-a-kind and formidable journalist who is always one step ahead, quietly working behind the scenes on the next scoops that make the loudest impact,” said ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic. “With his extensive investigative experience, he will continue to break stories that dominate the news cycle for years to come.”

In his new role as Chief Investigative Correspondent, Aaron Katersky will be based in New York. He will report across a variety of the network’s platforms, including Good Morning America, World News Tonight, 20/20, Nightline, and This Week with George Stephanopoulos, among others.

Also, he’ll lead the coverage of ABC News’ investigative unit. That unit covers public safety, political corruption, and the criminal justice system.

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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