Capital Sports Audio (CSA) is going all-in on NFL coverage for 2026. The first-year audio service says it’ll cover every regular season and postseason NFL game.
What We Know: CSA announces that the service will staff every NFL stadium with reporters this season. Meanwhile, several competing audio services have scaled back their NFL footprint in recent years. That pullback opened a lane, and CSA is stepping into it. Coverage includes a voiced wrap report, player sound bites from both teams, and raw sound from winning head coaches. CSA’s inclusive NFL coverage will be complemented this fall by coverage of all NCAA football games involving AP Top 10 teams. In addition to at least 60% of MLB, NBA, and NHL regular season games and all postseason games in those leagues.
What They Said: Capital Sports Audio CEO Dave Ferry: “CSA is filling a need for expanded NFL audio coverage. We’ve seen an NFL coverage vacuum created by the decision of other networks to downsize its NFL content. CSA sees a great opportunity to increase our NFL content for radio stations and websites.”
What Remains Unclear: The release regarding the expanded coverage did not detail pricing or subscription costs. For more information, please reach out to dave.ferry@capitalsportsaudio.com.
What It Means: Following the pulling back of several other services, CSA is betting that comprehensive access beats scattered coverage. The NFL push complements existing deals across NCAA football, MLB, NBA, NHL, and golf’s majors. If other services keep retreating, CSA’s timing looks sharp. For now, the company is positioning itself as the reliable full-season option.
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103.1 The Wolf (WWWF) Bay Shore, NY debuts a new morning show Thursday. Cane Peterson and ‘Sabrina From Queens’ Sergio drive the slot.
What We Know Starting September 10, WWWF features Peterson and Sergio in mornings after weekend teases and guest appearances like Scott Shannon’s airshift. Peterson arrives from WWZY Long Branch, where he spent four years in nights and afternoons. His New York market resume includes stints at Alt 92.3, Fresh 102.7, K-Rock, Z100, and VH1, plus multiple Minneapolis stops and SiriusXM channels. Sergio transitions from afternoons at Audacy’s 94.7 HD2 Newark, a role she held since January 2022 while serving as Senior Activation Coordinator for the Audacy New York cluster.
What’s at Stake The Wolf replaces Compass Media Networks’ “Big D & Bubba” syndicated show, betting local talent drives better performance. The station adds “Country with Carsen” from Compass for middays, suggesting a hybrid local-plus-syndication strategy. Program Director Robby Bridges shifts from middays to afternoons while Andrew Blitz maintains night duties. This restructuring tests whether morning-show chemistry outperforms established syndicated alternatives in competitive New York country radio.
What Remains Unclear Peterson and Sergio’s on-air compatibility remains unproven despite their individual experience. The format change’s immediate listener impact will shape the station’s year-end performance metrics. It’s unclear how this shift affects Sergio’s role at Audacy beyond afternoon hosting commitments. Finally, whether Connoisseur Media plans further local investments at WWWF depends on these early results.
What It Means Connoisseur Media prioritizes localized content over full syndication, banking on talent-driven mornings. New York’s country format continues fragmenting across terrestrial and HD2 channels, intensifying competition. The move reflects broader industry confidence in established local personalities. Ultimately, WWWF tests whether known New York voices reconnect listeners to terrestrial country radio.
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Mix 100/KSE Media’s Denver Hot AC station is beginning fresh. The station announced “Denver’s Morning Show” with Nina Blanco and Josh Griesemer, debuting Today.
What We Know Denver’s Mix 100 replaces its previous morning team following Jeremy Padgett and Katy Mitchell’s exit. Blanco arrives with significant station experience, having joined KIMN in April 2023. She advanced from 2-4pm host to afternoon drive in September 2024. Additionally, she took on Music Director duties last November.
What’s at Stake The new morning show pairing represents KIMN’s strategy to retain audience during a competitive daypart. Blanco brings prior morning experience at iHeartMedia CHR “95.7 The Party” KPPT and Max Media’s Hip Hop station “Flo 107.1” KFCO. Griesemer continues stability through continuity on air. Consequently, the station maintains some familiar voices for returning listeners.
What Remains Unclear KIMN’s marketing approach for the rebranded show hasn’t been detailed. The station is actively recruiting talent for an undisclosed daypart elsewhere. Specifically, applicants must deliver compelling five-hour music-based programming and manage daily music logs. However, the timing and scope of this hire remain uncertain.
What It Means Denver’s Hot AC market now features Blanco’s multi-platform expertise guiding morning content and music direction. This dual role suggests KIMN values integrated on-air and music strategy leadership. The continued presence of Griesemer provides listener familiarity during transition. Meanwhile, open positions indicate KIMN’s confidence in building out additional programming strength across its lineup.
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Emily Compagno is trading her seat on Outnumbered for one of the most coveted chairs in cable news, joining The Five as Fox News‘s newest co-host.
The move places Compagno inside the network’s highest-rated program, where the show averaged 3.3 million viewers each weekday afternoon at 5 PM ET this past August. It also closes a chapter that spanned nearly six years, marking one of the more significant on-air changes at Fox News this year.
“It is nothing short of my utmost honor and an incredible privilege to be tapped with this — in my view, such a huge responsibility to help carry the torch of what is the number one rated show at Fox, and to feel trusted to share my opinion and my thoughts with our viewers, whose faith I value so deeply,” Compagno said. “I feel humbled and privileged and honored to share the table with my co-hosts, and to hopefully bring to the conversation a dependable, insightful viewpoint that educates, hopefully inspires, and entertains people through the lens of my varied experience.”
Stepping into the top-rated show in the genre comes with pressure, though Compagno doesn’t seem rattled by it. Instead, she’s framing the jump as fuel rather than fear, crediting her faith and her Fox colleagues for steadying her ahead of the transition. Additionally, she pointed to the timing of the move as something bigger than a simple scheduling shift.
A Calling, Not Just a Career Move
For Compagno, the timing of this promotion carries a spiritual weight that goes beyond typical career milestones. She often frames her career path through faith, and this move is no exception.
“I’m a person of faith, so God’s timing is always perfect,” Compagno said. “I think the answer resides in the sheer fact that it’s happening now. But I think that’s the answer.”
That same sense of purpose extends to how she views the relationship between her old show and her new one. Rather than treating the two as competitors for her time, she sees them as different branches of one extended family.
“I consider both of these shows to be families,” the newest co-host of The Five shared. “The noon show is like your lunch table family, and the 5 o’clock show is your happy hour or your dinner table family. I think, by virtue of them being at different times of day — including Outnumbered at 9 AM on the West Coast, where I’m from — they naturally have different tones or topics that might be more appropriate for that time of day. But of course, the congeniality and the love and the banter and the joy is present in both shows.”
Compagno’s connection to The Five actually predates her time on Outnumbered by several years. Her first appearance on the show came back in 2018, and she still remembers the exact date.
“The first time that I was on the show, the team pulled it up — I didn’t know this date off the top of my head, but it was July 30th of 2018, and I do remember everything about that day, just about,” Compagno said. “I have the sweetest photo that I’d sort of forgotten about — my family was on a family vacation, and with this opportunity to be on The Five, I joined them on their vacation a couple days into it. It’s just particularly special to me because my mom is no longer with us, so it’s a precious memory that my family was so supportive and enthusiastic about from the first minute.”
That family framing carries over into how Compagno talks about her broader path to television. Before she ever sat behind a news desk, she built a career as a practicing attorney, a background she credits for shaping the voice she now brings to air.
“I saw that there were some attorneys out there who were practicing law and participating in these high-profile cases while also going on television to help educate the public about the inner workings of it all,” Compagno said. “I noticed that and identified it as something I would love to do. My goal was never to be on TV or to be a host — my goal was to inspire, educate, and entertain through the lens of my experience.”
Leaving theOutnumberedFamily Behind
Nearly six years on one show naturally creates bonds that don’t disappear with a schedule change. As excited as Compagno is for what’s next, she’s also candid about what she’s leaving behind.
“Of course, it’s bittersweet,” Compagno said. “It’s almost like going off to college or something, where I’m excited for the next chapter, but I’m so sad to leave. I’ll miss my sisters on that show, but I know that they are cheering me on, and I have their full support and excitement, so that makes it only positive.”
Throughout the conversation, Compagno kept circling back to gratitude, both for her Outnumbered colleagues and for the network that gave her a platform in the first place. She made a point of crediting Fox News leadership directly for the opportunity now in front of her.
“I would not be here, and I share this success, this next chapter, with the rest of Fox News,” said Compagno. “Being a part of the Fox family is a dream come true, and it’s what I treasure all day, every day. Whatever I am today, and however I’ve grown, it’s because of their imprint and support.”
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It’s been a busy last twelve months for Craig Carton. Following the cancellation of his FS1 program, Breakfast Ball, in July, many speculated about where Carton’s path would lead after his network television debut. The results of that journey to today shouldn’t be surprising.
First, Carton remained a partner with FOX and worked with Red Seat Ventures to develop a one-hour daily program titled The Craig Carton Show. His return to WFAN followed, with the official announcement coming in early December. Earlier this year, Carton added another layer to his growing media presence by teaming with Lil Wayne for The Joint Venture podcast. Beginning today, Carton elevates that initial project by bringing The Craig Carton Show to a rebranded and growing OutKick digital platform.
“I have been a frequent guest on OutKick as well as FOX News. So, there’s some familiarity that I have with them, and they have with me,” said Carton about the early discussions surrounding bringing The Craig Carton Show to OutKick. “I was a guest with Dan [Dakich] about six months ago. Afterwards, they reached out and inquired about my deal with FOX expiring. The interest was mutual.”
With Carton’s FOX contract coming to an end earlier this summer, the network made an offer to keep him in tow along with The Craig Carton Show podcast. However, the network allowed Carton to retain the podcast and shop it around to other distributors outside of his prior arrangement with SportsGrid.
“I had the ability to go look for other partners, but they [OutKick] had an interest in me. It sort of came together at the same time. I have great respect for FOX as a company. They’ve been great to me on the sports side. Then to take that and evolve our relationship under the FOX News umbrella was a no-brainer,” explained Carton, who co-owns the IP for The Craig Carton Show with FOX. “We’re partners in every sense of the word.”
What To Expect
The program will be somewhat similar to its initial version, but also very different. It’s been more than two months since Carton hosted an episode, but the summer break allowed him to prepare for how he envisions this version reaching an audience that may not be as familiar with him as others.
His approach to discussing the hottest sports topics of the day will not change. The content will be more nationally focused, and less based in New York City sports which brought him success for almost two decades at WFAN. However, the biggest change to the new version of the show lies in something he didn’t have an opportunity to do with SportsGrid.
“The biggest change is this show affords me the opportunity to do far more long-form interviews than I’ve ever really done,” said Carton. “I’ve always felt I’m really good at it, and I love doing it. The last version of the show, because of commercial breaks, didn’t allow for real long-form interviews. This version does. Every show, I expect there will be some sort of long-form interview.”
What drew Carton to OutKick was the ability to tackle issues he wouldn’t discuss in other forums. From pop culture to politics, everything Carton plans to present on the show will be something that interests him, with guest appearances mixed in as well.
Another change at OutKick is that The Craig Carton Show will be a solo act. Former 97.5 The Fanatic host Tyrone Johnson served as Carton’s co-host for the past 10 months while the program was on SportsGrid.
“This will be a solo act. Tyrone may make a guest appearance from time to time. I’m very fond of him, and I believe he is a future star in this industry,” said Carton.
From a production standpoint, The Craig Carton Show will move from a live, one-hour program to a taped show. Episodes will be released weekdays at 6 p.m. on OutKick’s social platforms and YouTube channel. The show will also be posted to The Craig Carton Show YouTube page, which currently has nearly 74,000 subscribers. In the initial announcement, it was stated that the program would be released three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“I’d be shocked if, in the first four or five months, we’re not doing the show every day,” explained Carton. “I don’t think we’re going to start doing it just three days a week. The best bet for us is to come out of the gate with content five days a week. Building an audience with that kind of quality and consistency.”
Finding Balance
Carton will host the program from the OutKick offices at the FOX News complex on Sixth Avenue in New York City. Construction continues on Carton’s permanent studio, which should open in less than a month. In the meantime, Carton will tape his first OutKick episodes in a smaller setup, then expand the space soon.
The arrangement with OutKick comes after Carton signed a multi-year contract with Audacy’s WFAN late last year. Carton explained that there are never any secrets when it comes to business dealings between companies. His aim is full transparency. By allowing every outlet he serves to better understand what’s expected while giving him the freedom to expand his opportunities elsewhere.
“WFAN is well aware, and was aware from day one, that OutKick approached me. OutKick is also very aware of my responsibilities to WFAN. Everyone is also very aware that I’m doing the podcast with Lil Wayne. No surprises. We were able to work it out where everyone is happy about the amount of time I’m committing to each entity,” explained Carton. “The three actually complement each other really well.”
In balancing all of his duties, Carton admits he’s not a big sleeper. With The Craig Carton Show becoming a daily program alongside his WFAN responsibilities, his day will begin with the OutKick program before shifting to WFAN just after noon. He says there will likely be some stories that occasionally intertwine from one show to the other. But understanding the belief each company has in him, every outlet will get his full attention.
Carton is a competitor. His motivation has been to be the best at everything he’s doing while earning the consumer’s time in the process. With the shift to OutKick, that motivation is no different. He stands by his resume of success. His ability to draw younger audiences. In addition, he believes his content model fits what Clay Travis and OutKick have built since its inception.
“OutKick is a well-established platform with brand awareness and name recognition. We’re not starting with zero followers on social platforms. We have a built-in audience already there waiting for new content,” said Carton. “If you view my show as a startup for OutKick, we’re already ahead of the game. We already have followers that believe in the content. Now, we just have to find some new ones. I fully expect a great launch and quick success.”
A New Level Of Satisfaction
The journey of Craig Carton includes many highs, but also many lows. Many of the low points Carton experienced would easily end a career for others. But now, walking into a partnership with OutKick following a third and successful return to WFAN, Carton says he doesn’t take anything for granted anymore.
“There is a different level of satisfaction with this latest return to WFAN,” explained Carton. “Coming back from the national show on FS1 and the Red Seat Ventures project. Then having the same level of success again with another new partner. It’s hard to explain because my ego isn’t there anymore. But the satisfaction I get from enjoying the moments of success now is heightened. Because I know how hard it is to have success in this industry. The success this time around, and what I will have with OutKick, I’m enjoying it more than I ever have.”
Carton says the current lineup at WFAN is healthier and more together than at any time previously. He’s thrilled to see the wave of success his return has brought to the radio station, mainly ensuring those who hired him that they made the right decision. Carton says he understands his return did come with a price for others.
“I’m sensitive to how the news came out that I was coming back. Whether people thought I was coming back or not. In a perfect world, a company can tell their on-air people before they go on air that this was happening. Obviously, there wasn’t an opportunity to do that, and I’m sensitive to that,” said Carton. “It’s a cutthroat business. If the powers that be didn’t think a new version of Craig Carton would be successful, they wouldn’t have made the decision to do it. Now, less than a year in, the results prove their decision was the right one and created a very healthy radio station.”
Carton’s career has experienced plenty of highs and lows, but his return to WFAN has reinforced his belief that he can still connect with an audience and deliver results. Now, he’s hoping OutKick experiences the same payoff.
For Carton, this opportunity is about more than adding another show to his schedule. It’s another chance to prove his ability to build an audience extends beyond the New York sports market he has dominated for nearly two decades.
WFAN took a calculated risk when it decided Carton was worth bringing home. Less than a year later, the results have validated that decision and helped create a healthy radio station. Now, OutKick is making its own bet.
Carton believes the upside can be just as significant. He knows success has to be earned, regardless of the platform or his previous accomplishments.
If the bet pays off, OutKick may eventually look back on its decision much the same way WFAN does today — as a chance that became a very good investment.
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Maria Bartiromo’s abrupt departure from Fox News has left the media world buzzing, and it’s easy to understand why. Reports indicate she was fired for allegedly sharing information with the Trump administration about the network’s coverage plans surrounding the president’s July primetime address on Chinese election interference. Bartiromo’s attorney has denied the claims, but the fallout is real regardless of where the truth ultimately lands.
If the reporting holds up, though, it doesn’t just end her run at Fox — it fundamentally reshapes where she can go next. A firing built around allegations of partisan overreach doesn’t exactly open doors. It slams a few shut entirely.
Let’s start with the obvious. ABC News, NBC News, and — despite what some corners of the internet might suggest — CBS News are off the table. These are networks that spent years building credibility around institutional neutrality, however imperfectly. Hiring Bartiromo under these circumstances would hand critics an easy narrative, and no news division wants to inherit that kind of story on day one.
Fox News and Fox Business Network are non-starters too, for reasons that don’t need much explanation. CNBC, her former home before she ever set foot at Fox, isn’t walking back through that door either. Too much time has passed, and the business news landscape has moved on without her.
The Cable News Puzzle
MS NOW sits on the opposite end of the political spectrum from where Bartiromo has built her brand, so that pairing doesn’t make sense on any level. NewsNation presents a more interesting case. The network insists it’s non-partisan, yet I’d challenge anyone to watch Katie Pavlich Tonight and walk away convinced. Still, NewsNation has spent years cultivating a credibility argument that hinges on staying above the partisan fray. Bringing in someone dismissed for allegedly leaking coverage plans to a political administration would undercut that pitch immediately. I wouldn’t rule it out entirely, but I’d bet against it.
That narrows the realistic field considerably. Once you eliminate the major broadcast networks, Fox’s own properties, CNBC, MS NOW, and probably NewsNation, you’re left with Newsmax and OAN. And frankly, I’m skeptical OAN has the budget to make a serious run at a name like Bartiromo’s.
Newsmax, on the other hand, doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It’s a conservative network, full stop, and it’s never hidden that identity.
Interestingly, though, it hasn’t become the default landing spot for every Fox News castaway looking for work. A handful have ended up there, sure, but it’s nowhere close to functioning as “Fox News Jr.” Even so, Newsmax remains the most logical cable landing spot if Bartiromo wants to stay in the television space.
Its audience overlaps heavily with hers, and its editorial posture wouldn’t require her to soften anything about her approach.
A Radio Wild Card Worth Watching
There’s another possibility that deserves attention, and it doesn’t involve cable television at all: 77 WABC. Station leadership has cultivated close ties with Donald Trump and his administration, mirroring the same dynamic that makes Newsmax a fit. Owner John Catsimatidis has never shied away from hiring controversial figures, and he’s shown a willingness to bring high-profile names onto his lineup regardless of the baggage attached.
Consider who’s already had a show there. Rudy Giuliani, Roger Stone, and Michael Cohen have all held spots on WABC’s air at various points. That track record suggests Catsimatidis isn’t losing sleep over reputational risk when a name carries enough weight to draw listeners. Could he view Bartiromo as a fit for talk radio? I don’t see why not.
To be clear, I’m not predicting this happens, nor am I suggesting it’s the likely outcome. But given Catsimatidis’ history and WABC’s political alignment, it’s a scenario worth keeping on the radar as Bartiromo weighs her next move.
Ultimately, the walls are closing in faster than they normally would for a talent of her stature. Bartiromo built a decades-long career as one of business television’s most recognizable faces, and now she’s staring down a shortlist that’s shrunk to essentially one cable network and one radio wild card. That’s a stunning turn for someone who once anchored some of the most-watched hours in financial news. Where she lands next will say plenty about how far the fallout from this Fox News exit truly extends.
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It’s not the first time, nor will it be the last. This past Saturday, College GameDay devoted a segment to the upcoming vote on the Protect College Sports Act this week in Congress. Regardless of your political leanings, a college football pregame show devoted time at the official kickoff of the season to publicly support national legislation with no representation of the opposing view.
Is this the new normal? Is this the expectation moving forward? Without question, college football needs some sort of reform. But is this act the fix? And should it be debated on a college football pregame show to kick off a new season of Saturdays in the fall? If Saturday was an example, where was the debate? There was none.
I’m not naive enough to believe sports and politics have never mixed on sports television programming. I’ve always argued that if there is a direct connection between sports and a political debate, then engage. But engage properly. Except, Saturday provided a moment where the intersection was direct. However, the forum was not open to the other side.
Instead, this was lobbying. Not discussion. This was advocacy, not debate.
The Other Side Is Important
Yes, Nick Saban is a staunch supporter of the act proposed in Congress. In fact, he testified before a Senate committee in support of the bill and appears in a commercial supporting it. Yes, Pat McAfee is also a supporter of the act. He’s said as much on his daily sports talk program.
But the heart of the legislation is still up for debate. The vote comes this week. Saban himself said he considers the bill 80% good.
Why only 80%? Where is the other 20% lacking? That could have used another point of view from someone opposed to the act.
But where was it?
The crew discusses the situation that's unfolding at LSU and the current state of college sports. pic.twitter.com/uYGyyD1tmy
Make no mistake about it. ESPN has been a lightning rod for years over talent embracing social commentary and political conversation on air. The network has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum when its talent has ventured into broader discussions involving sports and politics.
We’ve seen it with Colin Kaepernick and the national anthem debate. We’ve seen it in discussions surrounding the NBA and WNBA with issues of political and social policy. Depending on the audience and the topic, ESPN has always been accused of being too “this” or too “that.”
But at the heart of those criticisms is often the same complaint: the absence of an opposing viewpoint. Taking a stance instead of embracing debate and conversation. That doesn’t mean every argument needs to receive equal weight. What it does mean is that when a program chooses to enter a discussion involving a matter of public policy, the audience deserves an opportunity to hear more than one perspective.
If shows or talent wish to dive into these discussions, they should ensure that both sides have representation. That’s what fair coverage deserves, and what every sports talent should understand.
Both Sides Matter
At the end of the day, every program should give viewers and listeners an informed and entertaining point of view. Political discussions demand that broadcasters present more than one perspective. Any sort of reform has its supporters and detractors. News networks attempt to provide both sides. Talk radio also makes an effort to present both angles of a discussion.
Without debate, nothing is accomplished. Compromise is never reached. Agreement is never final.
There is a dissenting side to the legislation in Congress. But you wouldn’t know that by watching College GameDay on Saturday. Withholding that point of view when you choose to enter the discussion is misguided. It doesn’t accomplish the service your program is designed to provide: entertain and inform.
Saturday’s edition of College GameDay should be an example every sports talk program attempts to avoid. If a program chooses to enter the political arena, it has a responsibility to do more than present one side of the argument. When legislation is being debated, especially legislation that could directly impact the sports being discussed, the audience deserves to hear the strongest arguments from both supporters and opponents. It didn’t happen.
By doing so, that’s giving viewers and listeners enough perspective to form their own opinions. Isn’t that the goal? Have the audience decide?
Talent can have a position. Programs can have a point of view. But when the discussion involves politics and public policy, presenting only one side risks turning commentary into advocacy. And that distinction matters.
Sports debate has always been at its best when it challenges its audience to think, question and engage. Saturday provided an opportunity to do exactly that and missed it. The Protect College Sports Act deserved a conversation, not a campaign pitch.
Every sports talk program entering similar territory should remember the difference.
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About two years ago, my curiosity just wouldn’t let me alone. I got access to ChartMetric, and honestly, I became kind of obsessed. I kept digging into the playlisting world and the independent curator space because I couldn’t stop asking: “Wait, how does this actually work?” I’m still figuring it out, but what I’ve been learning is making me rethink how the whole music ecosystem flows.
For years, we all told ourselves the same story: get on an editorial playlist like RapCaviar or New Music Friday, and boom — you’ve made it. But the more I look at what’s actually happening, the less that feels like the whole picture. Clearly, something more complex is going on. This whole connected system exists beneath the surface. And I’m still learning it, but I think it matters.
Full transparency: I own The Tune Farm, a boutique marketing agency that offers some of these services. This isn’t a commercial for my business — it’s just me thinking out loud about how this all actually works. But I wanted to be upfront about that.
The Independent Curator: Where It All Starts
Okay, so nobody gets excited about the unsexy beginning. Playlists with 5,000 followers? That doesn’t sound like it matters. But the more I dig into this, the more I think they might actually be where everything starts. These independent curators — bloggers, niche community builders, DJ-types — they’re adding music they actually care about. They’re not algorithms. They’re people.
Now, here’s something I’ve learned that gets complicated: not all of these “independent” playlists are actually independent. Some of the bigger ones? They’re owned by major labels. They look grassroots, they feel authentic, but there’s money and strategy behind them. That’s real, and it’s worth knowing.
But here’s what still matters: the truly independent curators are still out there, still floating around, and they’re still part of the conversation. They might have smaller audiences, but they have a voice. And the engagement they create is genuine. I should note — this influence can be bought, but Spotify’s getting smarter about detecting that stuff. There’s real risk if you end up on the wrong playlists.
The Data Shift from Indie Playlists
Here’s the thing I keep noticing: when a track lands on multiple indie playlists — the real ones — something shifts in the data. I started tracking this through ChartMetric, and I kept going, “Wait, is this real?” But yeah, when you see a song hit ten, fifteen, or twenty independent playlists, the streams don’t just stay flat. They move. Something’s happening.
I think what’s happening is that these engagement signals — the saves, the playlist adds, the actual song completions — they’re real in a way that matters to Spotify’s algorithm. It’s not fake engagement. These listeners actually chose to add the song. They’re not scrolling past it.
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but it reminds me of something from radio’s best days: tastemakers mattered. The music director at an influential station could break records. The trusted afternoon host could move culture. That mattered. And I think that’s what’s still happening with these independent curators, just in a totally different shape.
The Algorithmic Playlist: Where Signals Become Recommendation
I’m still wrapping my head around this part, to be honest. Once you’ve got enough engagement on these indie playlists, something kicks in. Spotify’s algorithm starts showing the song to more people. We’re talking Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or Daily Mixes — the playlists that drive millions of streams.
What exactly is Spotify watching? The data points seem to be save rates, completion rates, playlist adds, and follower growth. But I’m not 100% sure how much weight each one gets.
What I do know is: a track gains traction on indie playlists and drives real engagement. Suddenly, Spotify’s algorithm recognizes something worth recommending. The reach multiplies. A curator’s 5,000 followers becomes 50,000 listeners through algorithmic play. It feels reproducible. There’s a system that responds to real listener behavior.
How the Pipeline Flows Upward
Think of it this way: genuine engagement signals feed the algorithm. The algorithm then exponentially amplifies those signals. Real listener behavior creates the foundation for everything that follows.
The Editorial Playlist: The Amplifier (If You Can Get In)
Editorial playlists — RapCaviar, New Music Friday, or Today’s Top Hits — they’re the biggest megaphone in music. A single placement means millions of streams. That part I’m sure about.
But I keep wondering: are editorial playlists only about who you know? Some artists and labels definitely have direct relationships with Spotify’s team. That’s real. However, the more I look, the more I think editorial is also watching what’s already working. If a song is already gaining momentum on indie playlists and triggering algorithmic recommendations, I think that gives editorial a reason to add it. They can see it’s already resonating.
Maybe it’s not either/or anymore. Perhaps you need a relationship and you need the data. I’m still learning, but the pipeline seems less closed off than it used to be.
Why This Matters for Radio and Media
Here’s why I keep thinking about this: radio people have been in the influence business for a long time. We know what it means to be a tastemaker. And I’m wondering if we’re missing that we still are.
Your playlists, your on-air recommendations, your social media curation — that’s still tastemaking. You’re still creating signals that real listeners respond to. And maybe — I think — those signals matter more than we realize to how music actually discovers its audience.
If that’s true, then radio isn’t irrelevant. It’s just part of a bigger conversation. And understanding this pipeline? That’s understanding where we fit in.
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Labor Day is behind us, and it’s time to plan for the fall holidays. This is my public service column for programmers and promotion departments. Consider it your reminder to get to work on the important holidays that occur during the fall rating book. Gone are the days when you could walk over to the sales department and ask for a turkey giveaway on two weeks’ notice. It’s also the time of year when your charitable efforts are needed most. Whether it be food for the hungry, toys for the kids or coats for the needy, it’s time to button up your community efforts. Those campaigns add a huge halo to your station’s image.
But first, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how important this week is. Friday is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As a native New Yorker, I was programming in New York City when the twin towers fell. Perhaps you already saw the moving show on ABC-TV last week. Like most who lived through the tragedy of that day, I don’t feel like 25 years have passed. I know New York radio will reflect the mood of the city this week. Wherever you are, I hope you have some sort of acknowledgement.
Halloween Delivers Weeks of Morning Show Content
Since radio, and morning shows in particular, should be fun, no holiday reflects that better than Halloween. There is also no holiday that can carry as many promotions without offending anyone. As a result, it would be beneficial to establish a relationship with the leading haunted house in your market. While it might not translate great on the air outside of ticket giveaways, the social media aspects are huge. For example, Karen Carson’s New York show had a nurse accompany her elderly father to keep an eye on his blood pressure as they toured the house. Social media promotions also range from best carved pumpkins to scariest decorated homes.
Morning shows have content for weeks. Halloween confessions past and present, voting on the best candy and costumes, and the scariest thing you’ve ever seen at work all work well. In addition, you can look for homes that people believe could be haunted. Since some costumes today tend to be a bit riskier, you could do Spooky or Sexy and post pictures. I’ve even seen a station sell a local car dealer a promotion where listeners brought their pre-school kids for their first Halloween. Meanwhile, the station talent bonded with parents while the kids ran around grabbing goodies.
Because Halloween is a Saturday this year, feel free to hit the Halloween songs hard. If your format allows, Thriller should be in power rotation for the day. Have fun with this one. From Ghostbusters to Back in Black to The Devil Went Down to Georgia, there’s someone for everyone.
Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Need Your Attention Now
Some stations will devote resources to honoring veterans on November 11 this year. For instance, I heard a classic rock station record actual veterans shouting out their branch of service and the company where they served. They then introduced the next set of music. This was done throughout the day. It’s also a great time to raise money — and it takes a lot — to train a vet dog. Use imaging and talent to thank these men and women for their service.
You need to start working on Thanksgiving now. If you don’t have a budget, you will need your sales department’s help. Prices are high, and there’s no sign of things costing less soon. Not only did families find gas prices higher this Labor Day than any other, but diesel fuel prices hit an all-time high. As a result, costs will rise for everything transported by truck. That includes almost everything in the grocery store. Therefore, you need to find ways to make Thanksgiving free for your listeners. Turkeys, yes, but go even further and try to give away supermarket shopping sprees. With Black Friday following Thanksgiving, perhaps you could even tie in a mall. Since so much shopping is now done online, use a local pitch this year to shop “a store with a door.”
Your morning show talk topics leading up to Thanksgiving are gold. Which food do you secretly hate? Who is the worst guest at the table? There are also some dumb family traditions to talk about, and don’t forget the debate over who is hosting. From Thanksgiving travel nightmares to those that happen in the kitchen, stories emerge anytime lots of people gather or travel. As I always say, great stories are the key to engaging your audience and Nielsen success.
Plan in September, Enjoy the Fall
Time flies when you’re doing several jobs, as most of us are these days. If you’re a parent, school activities are taking up time right now as well. Use September to plan what is ahead. Then you will be able to enjoy the fall holidays as much as your listeners do.
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This Friday marks 25 years since September 11th changed the country forever. I watched Turning Point: Generation 9/11 on Netflix this weekend, and it stuck with me. More than 100 million Americans alive today were born after that morning. For them, 9/11 isn’t a memory. It’s history, passed down the way older generations passed down stories about Pearl Harbor.
Meanwhile, 93% of Americans over 35 still remember exactly where they were that day. That gap is exactly why radio matters here. We sit between the generation that lived it and the generation learning it for the first time. Few mediums reach both audiences at once the way we do.
What This Friday Looks Like
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum built out a full slate of programming for the 25th anniversary, and it’s worth bookmarking. Families will gather at the Memorial plaza for the annual reading of names, followed by seven moments of silence. Disney and ABC News will air a primetime tribute starting at 8 p.m. ET, anchored by David Muir, Robin Roberts, and Diane Sawyer. The Tribute in Light will once again rise over lower Manhattan.
The site also runs “Remember the Sky,” an initiative asking people everywhere to photograph the sky on 9/11 and share it with a memory attached. That’s a simple, shareable moment any morning show can build a segment around.
For programmers looking to point listeners toward broader coverage, Deadline’s roundup of 9/11 TV specials is a solid resource to link in show notes or on-air mentions.
Turn the Anniversary Into a Day of Service
Radio doesn’t just have to talk about 9/11. It can act on it. In 2014, while I was at HOT 97, we organized a day of service with Ebro In The Morning. Listeners joined us and partners from the U.S. Army to help build a house in Queens for Habitat for Humanity. You can watch that day here.
That project taught me something I still believe: 9/11 hits differently when a station treats it as a day of service instead of just a day of remembrance. Federal law even designates September 11th as a National Day of Service. Morning shows are perfectly built for this. Rally your listeners. Partner with a local nonprofit. Show up together.
If your station can’t organize a full build, smaller ideas still work. Coordinate a blood drive. Collect supplies for a local firehouse. Volunteer at a food bank as a team. The goal isn’t scale. It’s participation.
Music Can Carry What Words Cannot
Sometimes a moment needs a soundtrack instead of a script. In 2021, while at Audacy, I helped produce the Stars and Strings Tribute Concert at Pier 17 in Manhattan, hosted by New York’s Country 94.7 FM. To commemorate the 20th anniversary, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown, and Chris Young performed as the Tribute in Light lit up behind the audience and a massive American flag waved off the Brooklyn Bridge behind the performers. A few hundred first responders sat in that crowd. I will never forget that night.
Not every market can produce a concert of that size, but every station can lean on music that fits the moment. Consider building a tribute playlist. Dedicate a segment to listener stories. Music gives people permission to feel something they might not put into words on their own.
A Few Ways to Start This Week
Before Friday arrives, consider a few simple moves. Link the 9/11 Memorial’s anniversary page on your station’s website or social pages so listeners have a resource. Share the boat lift documentary on social media; it tells one of the most overlooked rescue stories from that day. I re-watch it annually. Ask your morning show to spend five minutes discussing where hosts were that morning, then invite listeners to call in with their own memories.
Twenty-five years in, radio still has a job to do here. We can inform the generation that wasn’t there yet. We can honor the generation that never forgot. And on Friday, we can prove that a broadcast signal still has the power to bring a community together.
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.
