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Promo Meeting: Eggcellent Chance To Seize The Moment

Jeff Lynn
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Promo Meeting: Eggcellent Chance To Seize The Moment

Notwithstanding the dire predictions of a rodent in Punxsutawney, PA, spring is just around the corner. It is a time traditionally seen as a refresh and renewal for everything from your wardrobe to your radio station.

In the not-so-distant past, I had a market heritage morning show. One that had soared to tremendous heights in the 80s. The problem was that three decades later, they were still stuck there.

They were fortunate to have still a halo effect that allowed them to escape it. I kid you not; they were still doing bits blatantly “appropriated” from Scott Shannon.

Try as I might, I could not get them to update the show, and sadly, they chose retirement over updating—riding off into the sunset on Mr. Ed.

At a minimum, spring and fall, sit down with you on air teams in a room with a whiteboard. Encourage a hard and honest look at what is and isn’t working. Everyone gets a say, and everything gets written down. You might be surprised that the weekend guy who rarely sees the morning show in person might have a nice twist on a bit that needs refreshing. Take the time; it might be time to retire Gnarly Charlie and Mr. Leonard.

Eggcellent

Seize the moment. People are talking about the price of eggs. Even a beloved institution like The Waffle House has added a 50-cent surcharge per egg served.

Create a Gas Buddy-type page on your website where people can report the location of the cheapest dozen eggs. It’s not so much about expecting people to rush across town as it is to sound like you are plugged into what’s going on.

Bring it on the air for a segment where people can call in and report on the egg market. It will drive interaction and is fresh in the moment content.

It would be even better if you could trade or find a grocery store that will give you certificates for a dozen eggs.

The Beltline

Speaking of grocery stores, this is one of my swing-and-miss marketing ideas from my programming time in Milwaukee. I had a station that had established a marketing mascot that was so polarizing that everyone talked about it with either great love and amusement or complete and total disgust.

The mascot was on billboards, TV, station vehicles, everywhere.

One day, it occurred to me how cool it would be to see my mascot and logo on the belts that moved your food toward the cashier at the supermarket. This was before the days of self-checkout, so there were more belts.

With a bit of persuasion, a substantial check, and a bit of trade (I had a great sales manager who could see the big picture and agreed as long as it was incremental dollars), I had a deal in principle with the biggest supermarket chain in Wisconsin.

A company spending freeze and a round of RIFs followed, and it never happened.

Whenever I am at a grocery store, Walmart, Target, etc, I think about what might have been. I might have a reward for someone who could pull that off. With advertising everywhere we look, I’m still surprised no one has ever used that space.

Prom

Last week, I wrote about ideas for prom promotions.

I love the Second Chance Prom for non-high school students. Have your staff DJ the event and act as chaperones.

Sponsorship opportunities include many things: photo booth, food, title, and more.

Let Barrett Media showcase you best. Email me here, jeff@barrettmedia.com

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 Watch: Meet the Press with Kristen Welker

Garrett Searight
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The Watch: Meet the Press with Kristen Welker

Since Kristen Welker replaced Chuck Todd as the moderator of Meet the Press, it has been a favorite of those in the key Adults 25-54 demographic.

The Sunday political affairs programs have been under assault — especially from conservative media members — in recent years. Hosts like Welker, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, and CBS’ Margaret Brennan are often labeled friendly to liberal lawmakers and adversaries to conservatives.

For the record, I don’t share those beliefs. And I think it’s especially difficult to use those labels when the episode of Meet the Press I watched included former South Dakota Governor and current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (R) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) as the more high-profile guests on the program.

As I sat down to watch Meet the Press, the first thing that struck me was how different the presentation was to what I’ve been normally watching. Admittedly, I don’t think there’s a fantastic way to begin a TV news show like this in 2025, but a two-minute opening montage of what you’re going to talk about in the next hour feels antiquated.

It’s the “here’s an announcement that we’re going to be making an announcement” of the TV world. Seriously, pull up a YouTube video of any type that begins with two minutes of the host talking about what they’re going to talk about. See how long you make it. It isn’t long.

I understand that I can only share my point of view, but as a millennial, two minutes of “Here’s what’s on the show today” is roughly 90 seconds of me no longer watching your show.

Cynically, one of my favorite exercises when listening to a new radio show — especially the beginning of the first hour — is thinking to myself “not in content yet”, and seeing how long that lasts. With Meet the Press, it was legitimately two minutes. The average millennial attention span is reportedly 12 seconds. While Meet the Press is the longest-running show in TV history, that doesn’t mean it’s immune to being flexible to today’s news consumer.

The content began with a Welker standup to introduce the hot topics of the week. Which is fine, if I hadn’t just sat through a two-minute montage of what the hottest topics of the week were and who would be on the show to analyze them.

It’s almost borderline insulting to the viewer. If I’m tuning into NBC on a Sunday morning to watch Kristen Welker, there’s a really high chance that I already know what the top stories of the week were. We live in an always-changing 24-hour news cycle. To say “Here’s what happened this week” feels slightly condescending to the viewer, truthfully, especially when one of the big news stories was the worst airline disaster since 9/11 that dominated the headlines for days.

Also, this is just personal preference, but I didn’t love the on-screen use of the huge window monitors behind Welker. While I think there can be a happy medium between a scaled-down graphic approach and the in-your-face graphics packages that perpetuate cable news TV screens, this use on Meet the Press made it feel as if the graphics were almost an afterthought.

Six minutes into the show, Welker began an interview with Noem. Her first question to Noem was whether or not the United States is now in a trade war with Canada, China, and Mexico due to new tariffs enacted by President Trump. She pitched the question to the Homeland Security Secretary as being immigration-adjacent, but it really fell flat for me. It appeared more like an opportunity to get someone like Noem — who is known to “step in it” from time to time — to potentially step in it again.

Noem was at the southern border for the conversation, which Welker addressed roughly four minutes into the interview. Throughout the interview, it appeared as if Welker wanted to interrupt the guest several times. But, to her credit, she held off. If I had to guess, the hesitancy was due to the delay between the two, which would have resulted in the pair talking over one another continually.

As that interview concluded, the tease for the next segment was “When we come back, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt joins me next.” That’s a weak tease. Eric Schmitt joins you to do…what, exactly? To talk about what? To discuss what? I pay relatively close attention to the Washington political scene, but I don’t know that I could tell the difference between Eric Schmitt and a Pizza Hut delivery driver if put in a lineup. Eric Schmitt isn’t a big enough name to waste a tease on. If the Republican Senator was Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Tom Cotton, Tim Scott, Rick Scott, Rand Paul, John Kennedy, or Tommy Tuberville? Sure. You can just say “This high-profile Republican Senator joins me next.” But the tease of Schmitt’s existence felt like a waste.

I could go on with the nitpicks, but I think you get the picture.

I came away with the feeling that Kristen Welker has a handle on the subjects. She does a nice job commanding the show — steering the ship, so to speak. She’s well-prepared for her interviews, well-read, and knows her stuff. I empathize with the situation she’s in because she’s piloting a show that is an obviously has a longstanding sense of what it is, and maybe more importantly what it should be, and attempting to bring the show into a new age.

But watching Meet the Press — and maybe this episode was just an aberration — left me unimpressed. The segments were long, the interviews were long, some of the questions to the subjects made me question their purpose. It just didn’t reflect what — in my opinion — makes great television today.

Ultimately, it felt as if Meet the Press was more interested in continuing the tradition of what is has been rather than what it could be today. My sense was that the NBC News program was relying on the brand to carry a heavy load in drawing in viewers rather than the content. And when you’re using brand familiarity for success rather than the excellence of the product, I think that’s a bad strategy.

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.

Radio America CEO Mike Paradiso Knows How to Mold Talk Radio’s Top Talents

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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Radio America CEO Mike Paradiso Knows How to Mold Talk Radio’s Top Talents

Since 1985, Radio America has pushed the envelope forward on what it means to produce radio content on and off the mic. For nearly 25 years, Mike Paradiso is along for the ride.

“I think we really got our footing and where we reinvented ourselves was 15-plus years ago when we started prospecting and launching some of our own shows from scratch,” Paradiso said.

From sales representative to CEO, Paradiso has helped develop some of Radio America’s greatest talent and it all started with a love for sports. “I actually thought initially I wanted to do sports writing.” But in college he found his “journalist niche” was “getting to the bottom of a story. I was always a really big researcher and could dive deep into a story and understand all the different angles.”

He worked through school and gravitated toward the business and sales side of the industry. This, paired with the desire for getting to the bottom of a story, had Paradiso looking for alternative media. “That’s what eventually drew me to talk radio and center-right media was many stories were not being covered by the mainstream media.”

What was (and still is) great about Radio America is its ability to innovate and serve an audience that isn’t a typical audio demographic.

“One of the big things we were hearing from a lot of stations was that the Adults 25-54 audience was not being served anymore in the format,” said Paradiso. “The hosts and the content were geared towards an older, mostly male audience.”

Putting the audience first, Radio America began looking to reinvent itself and subsequently found different ways to target the FM talk stations coming up in the mid-2000s. “[We] really accelerated as we got into the 2010s and beyond. That’s what led us to launch Dana Loesch and Chad Benson. We looked at bringing in younger hosts that were going to be more in tune with pop culture, had a different sound, and were going to sound good on FM. We were really programming them for FM talk stations.”

Continuing to change as the industry itself rapidly changes to digital is a huge part of their business. “Because the audience consumes the content in so many different places and they’re just a younger audience,” he added. “And when I say younger, I mean people in their 30s and 40s.”

Podcasts and YouTube might not hit for a lot of radio stations but with the demographic it is perfect. “One of our biggest shows is Chicks on the Right. It was one of the first multi-platform shows when we launched it in 2019. The show was being podcasted, and streaming live on Facebook and YouTube. At that time, we were looking at different ways to reach the audience. Now, everybody’s kind of doing that.”

It takes more than just good ideas to create a successful audio business; it takes good talent. “All good talent have to have a show that is bursting out of them. They have to want to, and be passionate about something and want to talk about it. Obviously they also need the skills of just getting on the air every day, and talking and explaining things very well and passionately.”

Most importantly, Paradiso believes a good host “is able to connect with the listener or the viewer, being able to build that engagement so that the listener or the viewer sees them as a friend or it feels like they have a relationship with them. I think more than anything, we look at that ability of the talent to engage the listener.”

With his (and Radio America’s) expertise in innovative radio, Mike Paradiso believes there is one big feature that is key to the future of the medium. “It’s live. The live nature of radio is one of the more compelling parts of it. I think there’s always going to be that strong radio audience for the stations that program effectively and correctly. They’re offering enough things that people can’t get elsewhere. In a lot of cases, that’s going to be for their communities.”

One thing to keep in mind is that just because you are on the radio does not mean the audience automatically shows up. “You have to work really hard at it. That’s for radio stations and local programs,” the Radio America CEO said. “Then, I think the syndicated programs have to be able to, and for them to be successful within this radio landscape, incorporate themselves into those [local] radio stations.”

Its another point which Paradiso believes Radio America does well. “All of our talent are really good with doing local endorsements for their stations if asked and needed. We do customized promos for stations. We’ve even done some hybrid local/national deals where we’re able to incorporate some local segments with some stations.”

The main thing radio outlets need to do is stay relevant?

“There’s just so much competition. I think some stations will do [stay relevant] and some won’t. It’s going to be harder to have successful radio stations unless you’re doing the right things. You see a lot of successful radio stations now and it’s because they’re doing the right things.”

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 TJ & Riggins Show’ Sets Up Memorial Site For David ‘Ace’ Cannon

BMM Staff
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‘The TJ & Riggins Show’ Sets Up Memorial Site For David ‘Ace’ Cannon

Citing the outpouring of support, memories, and pictures of the late David ‘Ace’ Cannon, the “TJ & Riggins Show” has launched a site where listeners can share memories.

Cannon passed away Tuesday at the age of 56. (BMM 2/4)

He was well-known as one half of the “The Ace & TJ Show,” which he co-hosted from its inception in 1993 until September 2024.

Listeners and friends can share memories, condolences, and photos 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.

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.

Colin Cowherd’s The Volume Signs Nick Wright

BSM Staff
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Colin Cowherd’s The Volume Signs Nick Wright

Nick Wright will join his FS1 mate Colin Cowherd’s The Volume network and bring his popular podcast with him. According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Nick Wright’s “What’s Wright with Nick Wright?” podcast has signed with The Volume. 

NEWS: Colin Cowherd has signed Nick Wight's podcast away from both of their TV homes, Fox Sports, The Athletic has learned.www.nytimes.com/athletic/611…

— Andrew Marchand (@andrewmarchand.bsky.social) 2025-02-05T16:04:21.759Z

Wright will now have a similar arrangement to Cowherd as it pertains to FS1. He will still host his regular FS1 show, First Things First, and now host his podcast on The Volume’s network. Wright hosts the show with his son Damanza.

Adding current and former FS1 hosts has been a boon for Cowherd’s media venture. Outside of Wright, Cowherd works with Shannon Sharpe and his Shay Shay Media brand, which gave him the rights to Sharpe’s incredibly popular “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap” podcasts. The Volume also has podcast deals with athletes Draymond Green and Richard Sherman.

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.

NHL Games Struggling on ESPN, TNT Sports, Per Reports

BSM Staff
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NHL Games Struggling on ESPN, TNT Sports, Per Reports

The NHL may have a ratings problem on its hands if recent figures from Sports Media Watch are any indication. According to the site’s Braylon Breeze, ESPN’s Jan. 30 matchup between the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks averaged just 175,000 viewers.

Granted, the game aired at 10:30 PM EST and featured two teams that are in the cellar of the worst division in hockey. Its lead-in was a poorly viewed Iowa State-Kansas State women’s basketball game that averaged just 390,000 viewers.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for the NHL. ABC’s Saturday, Feb. 1 matchups drew favorable figures, especially compared to the nightcap from earlier in the week. According to Breeze, Blackhawks/Panthers averaged 723,000 viewers in the opening window, while the Rangers/Bruins drew a season-high 1.1 million viewers in the later window.

That being said, the rest of the NHL’s tentpole events aren’t faring so well, especially compared to other sports. The Winter Classic, the NHL’s trademark New Year’s outdoor game, averaged under a million viewers, which was the second straight year of all-time low viewership. The previous Winter Classic averaged 1.1 million viewers, which was, at the time, the lowest-ever viewership total.

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final game seven between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers drew record viewership for the league. It amassed 16.3 million viewers between ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports — the second most-watched NHL game across North America on record. Overall, the Stanley Cup Final averaged 8.8 million viewers across North America and 4.2 million viewers in the U.S.

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.

Longtime KS95 Minneapolis OM/PD Leighton Peck Has Passed Away

BMM Staff
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Longtime KS95 Minneapolis OM/PD Leighton Peck Has Passed Away

Former KS95 KSTP, St. Paul Minneapolis OM/PD Leighton Peck, has passed away. Peck, who was 65, died on January 30.

Peck, who started as a KS95 part-timer in 1991, served 19 years as PD and OM for the Hubbard cluster. He retired in May 2020.

His career started in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and included a stop in Mason City, Iowa, before coming to KDWB, Minneapolis, in 1988.

A celebration of life with an informal gathering will be held from 2 to 4 February 22 at Roberts Family Funeral Home in Forest Lake, MN.

Peck is survived by his wife of 39 years, Melinda; children, Elliot and Neena; brother, Sheldon; mother-in-law, Florence Berndt. 

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 Rush Hour with James Golden Enters National Syndication with Red Apple Audio Networks

BNM Staff
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The Rush Hour with James Golden Enters National Syndication with Red Apple Audio Networks

The Rush Hour with James Golden, which originates from 77 WABC in New York from 4-5 PM ET, is set to enter national syndication through Red Apple Audio Networks.

Also known as Bo Snerdley, Golden spent decades working alongside Rush Limbaugh on his popular national show.

“I am looking forward to connecting every day with listeners in markets all across the US,” said Golden. “During The Rush Hour, we take a look at events that occurred during the day, but we also take a break and have a little fun, too.”

In addition to his daily afternoon show, James Golden also hosts a three-hour syndication weekend show which went national last June. The show has more than 30 affiliates around the nation.

“James has attracted a loyal audience that continues to grow,” stated John Catsimatidis, Owner of Red Apple Media, Red Apple Audio Networks, and 77WABC Radio. “Many of his listeners remember him from the Rush Limbaugh days, but the audience growth he is experiencing is solely on his own talent. His insights on politics, combined with his love for talk radio, has made him a phenomenal success.”

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.

Fox News Signs Lara Trump to Deal to Host Saturday Night Show

BNM Staff
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Fox News Signs Lara Trump to Deal to Host Saturday Night Show

Fox News has announced it has signed Lara Trump to a contract to host a primetime weekend show on the cable news network.

My View with Lara Trump will be seen on Saturdays from 9-10 PM ET. That timeslot is currently occupied by One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, which will move to Sundays at 10 PM ET.

“I’m thrilled to bring my voice back to Fox News, talk directly with the American people, and highlight what makes this country so great,” said Trump. “As I cover the success of The Golden Age of America, I look forward to where this time will lead our country and where this opportunity will lead me in the future.”

“A gifted communicator who knows how to connect to the viewers, successful entrepreneur and working mother, Lara’s innate understanding of the American public and today’s political landscape will be a compelling addition to our weekend lineup,” added Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott.

Most recently, Lara Trump has served as the co-chair of the Republican National Committee. She has previously served as a contributor at Fox News, in addition to hosting a digital video series on her website since 2020.

The program from Trump is scheduled to debut on Fox News on Saturday, February 22nd.

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.

92.3 KRST Albuquerque Names ‘Bobby G’ Midday Host

BMM Staff
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92.3 KRST Albuquerque Names ‘Bobby G’ Midday Host

Country 92.3 KRST Albuquerque has named Bobby “Bobby G” Gutierrez as its new midday host.

It’s a return to the station and middays which he previously hosted from 2017-2022. Gutierrez has spent 35 years in New Mexico radio, including stops at 96.3 KKOB, Albuquerque, and KISS 97.3 Santa Fe.

Gutierrez commented: “Back in the saddle where I belong – Albuquerque, you have always been home! Feeling the love from my Cumulus family and my AMAZING listeners! It’s an absolute privilege to be back… Let’s ride this Country wave together!”

Jeff Berry, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Albuquerque, said: “We are thrilled to have Bobby G back in his rightful position hosting middays on this legendary radio station. He brightens the days of our listeners and all of us in the hallways at Cumulus ABQ.”

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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