The 10th edition of the Barrett Sports Media Top 20 series presented by Steve Stone Voiceovers rolls on. Today, we reveal sports radio’s top Major and Mid Market Afternoon Shows of 2024. Stay updated on all the results by visiting the website, following BM on X, Facebook or LinkedIn or signing up for our newsletters. At the end of the series, Dave Greene and I will record a video for the Barrett Media YouTube page sharing our thoughts on the results. Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube page so you’re notified once the video goes live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. I do not vote in this process. My role is to assemble the group, collect their votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2024’s performance. 2025 changes have no effect on the voting. Given that some shows went through changes, we promote them based on how they end, not how they start. A few examples of this are the changes this year at 670 The Score and ESPN 880 in New York.
#2 – We’ve asked the voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our executive panel consists of forty six (46) program directors and corporate executives from a number of top broadcasting companies including Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, SiriusXM, Radio One, and a number of independently owned and operated radio stations. We involve a large group in this process in order to include feedback from all parts of the country, as well as to prevent the results from heavily favoring one company.
#4 – Voters were asked to consider a bunch of factors when making their selections. The criteria included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind that our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 –A total of 33 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the Major Market Afternoon Shows category.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for helping with our graphics, and Stephanie Eads for her assistance with the voting process. I’d also like to thank every single voter who made time to participate. Now without further delay, here are the Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2024.
Additional Notes:
Felger and Mazz won the category for the fourth time, and second straight year. The Boston duo finished twenty five (25) points ahead of The Valenti Show with Rico. The Sports Hub’s afternoon show also earned the most first-place votes with nine (9).
Spots 21-25 belonged to The Drive w/ Zach Bye & Phillip Lindsay, Chuck & Chernoff, The Best Show Ever?, The WEEI Afternoon Show, and The Drive w/ TKras.
The closest contest saw Grant & Danny finish one (1) point ahead of Petros & Money.
Of the 33 shows to appear on submitted ballots, ten (10) received at least one 1st place vote.
BNM Top 20 of 2024 Remaining Schedule:
Thursday February 6 = BSM Top 20 National Sports Radio Shows of 2024
Friday February 7 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2024
Monday February 10 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2024
The 10th edition of the Barrett Sports Media Top 20 series presented by Steve Stone Voiceovers rolls on. Today, we reveal sports radio’s top Major and Mid Market Afternoon Shows of 2024. Stay updated on all the results by visiting the website, following BM on X, Facebook or LinkedIn or signing up for our newsletters. At the end of the series, Dave Greene and I will record a video for the Barrett Media YouTube page sharing our thoughts on the results. Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube page so you’re notified once the video goes live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. I do not vote in this process. My role is to assemble the group, collect their votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2024’s performance. 2025 changes have no effect on the voting. Given that some shows went through changes, we promote them based on how they end, not how they start. A few examples of this are the changes this year at 670 The Score and ESPN 880 in New York.
#2 – We’ve asked the voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our executive panel consists of forty six (46) program directors and corporate executives from a number of top broadcasting companies including Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, SiriusXM, Radio One, and a number of independently owned and operated radio stations. We involve a large group in this process in order to include feedback from all parts of the country, as well as to prevent the results from heavily favoring one company.
#4 – Voters were asked to consider a bunch of factors when making their selections. The criteria included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind that our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 –A total of 54 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the Mid Market Afternoon Shows category.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for helping with our graphics, and Stephanie Eads for her assistance with the voting process. I’d also like to thank every single voter who made time to participate. Now without further delay, here are the Top 20 Mid Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2024.
Additional Notes:
For the third straight year and fourth time overall, The PM Team won the category. Poni and Mueller finished eighteen (18) points in front of Common Man & T-Bone to earn the victory. The Pittsburgh duo also received the most first-place votes, five (5).
Spots 21-25 went to The Rob Dibble Show, Unnecessary Roughness w/ Q Myers, SportsTalk w/ Bobby Hebert, The Drive Guys w/ Whitey Gleason & Kyle Draper, and The Next Level.
The closest contest saw The Frangie Show finish two (2) points ahead of Cofield & Company.
Of the 54 shows to appear on submitted ballots, eleven (11) received at least one 1st place vote.
BNM Top 20 of 2024 Remaining Schedule:
Thursday February 6 = BSM Top 20 National Sports Radio Shows of 2024
Friday February 7 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2024
Monday February 10 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2024
Beloved Charlotte radio host David “Ace” Cannon has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 56.
HITS 96.1, a station where Cannon left an indelible mark, relayed the news of Cannon’s death to listeners yesterday. The radio station said “Cannon was an important part of so many people’s lives,” providing companionship, joy, and laughter to countless fans and colleagues, creating a sense of community that transcended mere broadcast.
Cannon was well-known as one half of the “The Ace & TJ Show,” which he co-hosted from its inception in 1993 until September 2024. Broadcasting from Louisiana and Alabama, the show made a pivotal move to Charlotte in 1998, where it quickly became a fixture within the local radio landscape. “The Ace & TJ Show” spent two decades on the air in the Queen City, first on HITS 96.1, and later on K104.7.
In the wake of Cannon’s passing, an outpouring of tributes flooded social media from radio industry colleagues and friends, reflecting on the profound impact he had on their lives and careers.
Cannon’s departure from The Ace & TJ Show in September 2024 came as a shock, prompting the show to rebrand itself as “The TJ & Riggins Show.” Amidst the transition, Cannon made a brief return in October, opening up about his personal struggles, including his ongoing divorce, and expressing his commitment to self-improvement and paving a brighter future for himself.
“Our prayers are with our brother,” the show conveyed on Facebook, echoing the sentiments of devastation felt by those who knew him.
As of now, the cause of Cannon’s death has not been disclosed. He is survived by his sons, Cade and Dax, his wife Amanda, and his sister, Piper.
Who doesn’t remember the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray? It has become a comedy cult classic, especially around this time of year surrounding Groundhog Day on February 2nd. If you haven’t seen it – what rock have you been living under? Allow me to give you a quick synopsis.
Bill Murray is a TV meteorologist who gets relegated to cover the annual Punxsutawney Phil event. Of course, if Phil sees his shadow, it suggests six more weeks of winter – if not, then spring is on the horizon.
Phil doesn’t handle the assignment with any grace whatsoever. He is resentful and believes he is far too good to cover such a ridiculous event. Let’s just say his poor attitude doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by his producer he has designs on, played by Andie McDowell, who believes him to be unnecessarily arrogant.
As a result of Bill’s attitude toward everyone through most of the picture, he ends up receiving some mystical form of retribution in, which Bill must repeat the same day – over and over again. Bill is the only one repeating the day.
For everyone else, it’s just Groundhog Day, unaware of Bill’s repetitive experience. We never truly know how many times the day repeats itself. It is possible this goes on for weeks and even months, but with each new (or repeated day), Bill begins to slowly soften and learn humility.
As the movie unfolds, we realize that Bill likes his producer and makes attempts each day to learn all he can about her, and the following day, he uses the info to woo and impress her. Over time, he learns all about her life, her passions, and her desires. If you have never seen this film, I won’t spoil the ending, but you should see it.
Besides being timely, what does this tale have to do with any of us? This classic comedy accentuates the need for all of us to learn something new about each other with every new day. As the film unfolds, the lesson becomes more and more powerful.
If we act in arrogance, anger, entitlement, and jealousy and show no willingness to change and adapt to those things expected of us, then we are destined to live the same day over and over again.
Frankly, it’s difficult to maintain positivity when we see friends and colleagues losing jobs and leaving the industry. We see change in our business world on an almost daily basis. I see friends I have known who have left the industry who claim, “The business just isn’t the same anymore!” They would be correct. It isn’t the same.
But it is new in other ways and certainly fresh technologies that have improved us over the years. Of this, we can be certain…the three constants in life remain the same… taxes, death, and change.
The one item we’re able to control is adapting to change with humility and positivity, with an emphasis on the latter. After all, change brings us innovation, opportunities, and eliminates outdated practices, offers greater efficiencies, introduces fresh talent along with increased retention, and a plethora of other possibilities.
Adaptation to change also invites competitiveness and for those unwilling to adapt, they are prone to lose their edge and be overtaken by those who know only of the newer methods.
Being open to change also embraces improved productivity with rewards for those who continuously learn and develop, which brings exciting new ideas to the team. While it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing things the same way because it’s familiar and comfortable, it’s essential to recognize the limitations of this approach.
My advice? Don’t get stuck in your own personal Groundhog Day to relive the same day over and over. Look for those things that educate, empower, and inspire you – and those around you. Strive every day to break free from the chains of repetition and embrace a future full of possibilities brought on by change and innovation!
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.
Back in October, I had the chance to eavesdrop in on a new podcast, Throwbacks with Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara. The show debuted in September and features the former quarterback-turned-broadcaster and the co-star of the hit show Entourage talking sports and life.
The show is cool in just about every sense of the word – the hosts themselves, the topics, the guests, the delivery, it’s just a cool podcast to listen to. If you listen to a new episode, you will think you’re hearing two people who have been really good friends for many years. The truth is, Leinart and Ferrara didn’t know each other well at all. They just hit it off when the podcast idea came about and as a listener to their podcast, you’ve gotten to hear their friendship develop from the start, which is, well you know, cool.
I had the chance to catch up with the hosts before they left for New Orleans and the Super Bowl. The duo will host Throwbacks live from the red carpet of the star-studded Fanatics Party on February 8th with an expected start time of 2:30 p.m. CT.
Dave Greene: What was your relationship like before the podcast started?
Jerry Ferrara: To be honest, Matt and I did not know each other personally. Obviously, I knew who Matt was. And when we first started talking, we kind of came to the idea really quickly that we did cross paths, probably about 2003. You know, we would have been good friends. We probably would have hung out. And if there was different NIL stuff, Matt would have definitely been on Entourage. And we realized, though, later in life, we actually have more in common now than we probably would have back then. We’re both married with kids, and it just kind of started right from there, and it was pretty instant the moment we started talking.
Matt Leinart: Yeah, that was a big thing. Jerry and I hopped on a call, and it was just like instant kind of synergy, chemistry, telling stories. I think we walked away from that call like, ‘OK, this is going to work’. This is going to be awesome because, Jerry always says this to everybody, it’s like we’re getting to know each other as the pod is growing, even though I feel like we’re already boys and like we already got to know each other so well.
It’s been really awesome to kind of form that relationship and friendship over this. And I think that’s what comes across on the podcast is just the chemistry, the storytelling, the crossing of two different worlds of entertainment, sports and all the people that we know, mutually throughout the years. And that was the whole kind of point of this podcast is there’s not really anybody else out there that has those worlds and can talk about that in a fun, unique, creative way.
JF: I knew we were in good shape right away because it also occurred to me, I love sports as a fan for the entertainment of it all. That’s why I watch, and I commit so much time to it. Whereas for Matt, it’s been his career, both on the field and now when he’s on Big Noon. He thinks it’s the funniest thing he’s ever seen to see me watch the Knicks because I’m a psychopath. And I think similarly with entertainment and film and TV, Matt looks at it like entertainment. And for me, that’s just been business. And when I’m watching a movie or a show, like I’m really thinking about a million other things. So, I think it’s two real unique perspectives that not a lot of shows can say they have.
ML: Sometimes I can view sports as a fan. But like Jerry said, Jerry comes from being a sports fan. And I come more from, I played it. I have a player’s perspective. I’m a little less critical and analytical more as far as I support the teams and the play and all those kinds of things. So, it does give us two really different perspectives. And then he’s right with acting, I’m a fan. I’ve been a fan of Jerry’s since Entourage. And even though we didn’t know each other, I was a fan of that show. It was one of my favorite shows in that era. And when I watch TV, I just watch.
DG: You both seem like guys people would want to hang out with, at least that’s what comes across on the podcast. Jerry, your character was similar to that as well in that people definitely wanted to hang out with you and the Entourage crew.
JF: Well, that’s the other thing that connects Matt and I, and for whatever reason, with Entourage, which was technically a show about Hollywood and entertainment, athletes way more than actors and people in Hollywood connected with the show for whatever reason. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what those reasons are. But there were times on set when we were really popular in the heyday and Kevin Durant would just be hanging out. And I think it’s because at the end of the day, athletes, way more than actors even, get success so young and all these things open up to them so young. So, wouldn’t you love to go through that with your most trusted people? Like we always said, we’ll always go back to New York if this acting thing don’t work out, like you would be with these guys even if you were playing Division III football. So, wouldn’t you love to be with them while you’re in the NFL or the NBA? And I think that’s made for a real interesting connection with this show, too.
DG: And Matt, it’s kind of the same thing with the locker room mentality. Entourage was like a locker room environment which is why so many people who love sports seemed to love the show, and it was probably talked about in many locker rooms.
ML: I’ve told this to Jerry on the pod, they called me Vinny Chase coming out of college. One of my teammates in Arizona, because I had this Hollywood perception, which I don’t always agree with, but I understand why, because I played at USC in the time where we were, in a way, on top of the world. We would hobnob with celebrities, and we hung out and it was all very normal. So, it was very much like Entourage.
And then when I went to the league that kind of followed me, obviously not necessarily always in a bad way, because all my boys, my teammates were my guys, but one of the linebackers called me Vinny Chase. And by the way, I don’t think he called me Matt for four years. He called me Vincent or Vinny. And it just stuck.
My best friend out of high school, he went to Arizona and then I went to USC. And when I got drafted by Arizona, I was like, ‘hey, dude, you want to come out and live with me in Arizona?’ This is my Turtle to Vinny. And he rolled with me through Arizona through that time. And it was my trusted best friend, we grew up together in Orange County. I just feel like athletes just want that. They want those types of people around them that they can trust and that they can go through it with. There are so many similarities between Jerry and I and the worlds that we grew up in. And I think I think it shows up on the pod, and that was kind of the hope.
JF: It’s interesting. A lot of podcasts have such a specific lane and are great for that specific thing. I think with us, it’s going to be an interesting development period because we have so many boxes that we’re constantly messing with, which I think in turn is better for the long term. That’s why I always tell everyone just to be patient as we grow, because we have so many different lanes we’re trying to keep up with.
DG: Matt, I wanted to ask you about Big Noon Kickoff on FOX Sports as well, because that seems like another group where there is a great deal of chemistry.
ML: I think the best podcasts, the best shows are just when you’re watching guys or ladies or whoever, a group of people just shooting the sh–. That’s kind of our whole motto. We want the guy on the couch, the guy in the bar to be able to have a beer and be like, ‘oh, those dudes are great on TV’. I don’t want to be over analytical. I just want to be easy to listen to. I think that’s always the key for us on TV. Drive your point, be likable, have fun, talk a little smack, laugh, get personal, all of those things. And I think Urban [Meter] has really grown because I would say that he did not check a lot of those boxes a couple of years ago. But now that he’s fully retired from coaching, you can see that come across on TV where his guard is down.
“And that’s the same with Jerry and me. It’s just a fun listen. Unique, different perspectives, different stories, all that kind of stuff is what I think can gravitate people to come to watch you and your show. And we definitely have that on Big Noon with all those guys as well.
DG: Jerry, we will finish with you, any favorite guests of all of the ones you have had on the podcast so far and anyone on your guest wish-list?
JF: Dontrell Willis really was great because he’s that perfect balance of here’s some insight of playing in the World Series, but also ‘here’s how I would pitch Ohtani – I wouldn’t pitch to him’. So, he really was one of my favorites early on. I loved [Nick] Swisher selfishly because he has just such energy the minute he comes on. And of course, Charles Barkley was great, I mean, I’m such a basketball nerd.
Of course, I’d love to get The Rock on, but would The Rock come on and talk and chill and let the guard down like Matt said about Urban earlier? I look forward to having the friends of the show on as we continue to go forward. We have one episode coming with the Entourage guys that we did in person, which we have a lot of fun stuff around that, too. So, I think that’ll be a big one for us.
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.
Mark Adams is Program Director at iHeartMedia’s Top 40 Z100, New York, and VP of CHR Programming. Adams joined Z100 in March 2024, moving cross country from Wild 94.9 and Star 101.3, San Francisco.
In Barrett Media’s Top 20 series, he was voted the #1 CHR programmer of 2024. Industry executives and programmers voted on his behalf, recognizing the contributions he’s made to New York’s hit radio station.
I had the opportunity to chat with Mark about being recognized by his peers, Z100, Elvis Duran, and much more.
Jeff Lynn: What was your reaction to landing the top spot on Barrett Media’s Top 20 CHR Program Directors list?
Mark Adams: I was genuinely surprised and both grateful and appreciative of the acknowledgment. It’s always nice to be recognized, and even more so when it’s driven by our industry peers. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me; considering how many talented programmers were also highlighted, that makes it even more special.
JL: What was the reaction like from your staff and industry colleagues?
MA: I heard from a lot of people the morning of the announcement, including other radio programmers, many of my current and former employees, and a number of label executives. Again, it was very nice and totally unexpected. It was also gratifying to see so many of my iHeartRadio programming partners receiving recognition of their own, including Dylan Sprague, Beata, Cara Hahn, Maynard, Tony Travatto, Rich Davis, Dan Hunt, James Howard, Mark Medina, and others.
JL: Your morning show, Elvis Duran, landed the top spot among CHR programs. What was your reaction when you heard that?
MA: I’m very happy for Elvis and the entire show, but to be candid, I’m also not terribly surprised. Elvis Duran & The Morning Show have been dominating morning drive in NYC for literal decades. The entire cast, both behind the mics and behind the scenes, are best in class. They do a tremendous job every morning. They’re also just great people, and I enjoy working with them.
JL: Z100 is a huge heritage brand. How aware are you of those who came before you and keeping the brand at the top?
MA: Highly. I’d go so far as to say that thought was paramount upon assuming the role. I’m only the sixth person to program Z100 New York, following Scott Shannon, Steve Kingston, Tom Poleman, Sharon Dastur, and Mark Medina. This brand means a lot to New Yorkers. There’s a very specific set of listener expectations that come along with having been an integral part of their lives for so many years.
I certainly feel the weight of those expectations. Though I’ve also been diligent about immersing myself in both the brand and the market. I also have great institutional knowledge within the building and the organization to call upon up too, including Tom (Poleman. Along with that I bring my own thirty years of programming experience.
Having said that, it’s not really about any one person, not even me. We have great, committed, and passionate teammates in programming, promotions and marketing, social, sales, research, and more that all play a significant role in keeping Z100 successful.
JL: What’s it like working with Elvis?
MA: Prior to even meeting him, I have been a long time Elvis Duran fan. Having already been a listener for many years, it’s kind of remarkable now finding myself working with him and the morning show. While I wouldn’t say I was intimidated, and to give you an idea of Elvis’s humor in response to that, he would have immediately demanded, “Why not?!”
I certainly brought a healthy amount of respect to the new relationships. They’ve been successfully entertaining, informing, and providing companionship to our listenership for many years. Yet despite that incredible winning track record, I’ve found Elvis and the entire show to be easy to work with and open to direction and feedback.
In response to my attempting to compliment him, Elvis would be the first to say something humorous or self-deprecating in deflection, but I genuinely think he’s one of if not the most effective morning drive hosts in radio history. His warmth, humor, empathy, and ability to make one on one connections with listeners is simply unparalleled. Getting to know Elvis, Danielle, Gandhi, Skeery, Nate, and the rest of the EDMS team has been one of my highlights of joining Z100.
JL: With such a huge spotlight on the morning show, does that impact the rest of your staff either negatively or positively?
MA: I don’t believe it’s anything other than a positive. The Z100 staff all recognizes that our overarching success begins in morning drive and that we’re all working towards the same goals. Having said that, I care just as much about our performance in midday with Ryan (Seacrest) and Sisanie, afternoon drive with Crystal Rosas, evenings with Josh Martinez, late nights and overnights with respectively Shelly Rome and Kiana Singh, and our entire on-air team. I certainly try to convey that consistently.
JL: So many young people starting out set their sights on Z100 or KIIS as a goal. What advice do you have for someone shooting for the top?
MA: If you have passion for radio, one of the best pathways to furthering your career is still simply getting into the building. I think you’d be hard-pressed to speak to any successful radio professional that didn’t work their way up from the inside. While things have never been more complicated and competitive, the need for exceptional talent has never been greater. I’ve always tried to offer mentorship and guidance, and I know I’m not alone in that ethos. If you have talent, passion, and hustle, there are still fantastic opportunities available and people who will be willing to help.
JL: And along those lines how did you get your start?
MA: I began my radio career in a very small town in rural Arkansas. I’m not sure it even rated a market ranking at the time. There were only three local radio stations, and I was fortunate enough to get in the door at one of them. I was excited to be there, driven to learn everything I could, and then willing to go wherever necessary to further my professional growth.
I was later an on-air personality in Phoenix and San Diego. My first program director’s position was in Fresno, CA. I later programmed in Milwaukee, Portland, Houston, and San Francisco. I was in the Bay Area for the past decade before moving to New York last April. The point being, if I did it, you can certainly do it as well.
Z100 Program Director Mark Adams was recognized as the #1 CHR PD in Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2024
JL: How do events like Jingle Ball impact not only all of iHeart’s Top 40 brands but Z100 as well?
MA: I, along with Marissa Morris (iHM SVP artist relations) work together each year to book the Jingle Ball tour. It rolls across ten markets each December and is a massive undertaking. The shows are a celebration and culmination of that year’s hit songs and artists across our CHR radio stations.
The Jingle Ball brand itself is iconic, and our listeners and clients nationwide are passionately engaged with these shows. For Z100 NYC, this event has history dating back to 1996. Then, as today, it’s held each December at Madison Square Garden. Over the past nearly three decades, the Z100 Jingle Ball has featured the biggest names in music, including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, and many more.
This past December featured Katy Perry, Tate McRae, Gracie Abrams, Teddy Swims, Benson Boone, Twenty-One Pilots, and many others, too. For New York, this is *the* holiday concert of the year. The shows often sell out within a few minutes of the on-sale, and Jingle Ball tickets then become the hottest and most in-demand contesting element we execute all year. As the PD of Z, it really doesn’t get any better than that.
Speaking in my VP CHR role for a moment, as I mentioned a moment ago, this is really the winners circle for a year’s worth of both song and artist development at the format as well. We’re as passionate about identifying and developing new and emergent artists as we are supporting those who are already established.
It’s always fun to share that many of the artists we have had in smaller events in years past, or even at a station’s Jingle Ball’s daytime village in years past, have gone on to become Jingle Ball headliners. Which is incredible for our listeners and, of course, the artists themselves. Z100 is an undeniable shaper of music and pop culture. It’s an honor to be a part of that legacy.
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.
Last week, a joint venture from Eastlan Ratings and FMR Associates showed that AM/FM Radio listening dropped by exactly one percentage point in their 2025 study. Kent Phillips, a partner at FMR Associates, believes that story needs to be told more broadly.
In 2025, 85% of the more than 1,500 25-to-64-year-olds surveyed listen to radio weekly. That is in line with listening from 2023 and down one percent from 2024.
In the eyes of Phillips, it dispels the notion that radio is going belly up.
You get this feeling that radio’s dying and there’s something going on,” said Phillips. “In reality, we’ve been doing this study for several years now. In the last three or four years, it’s just been stable. 85-86% of people in our study, across the board, listen to radio. They tune in every week. Adults are still listening to radio. So any thoughts of ‘Eh, they’ve given up on the dial. They’re not there,’ is absolutely untrue. So that is a huge, huge win for radio … People are still, despite rumors to the contrary, are still checking out the radio.”
The data released by Eastlan and FMR Associates also details radio listening by market size, from 1-30 and markets 31+. And the data is largely the same. Now, there is some slightly more listening to AM stations in smaller markets. But even in the nation’s largest metros, AM/FM Radio still garners the lion’s share of listening.
Podcasting, however, is different from the stable numbers the study has shown for terrestrial radio in recent years. In 2025, the number of weekly podcast listeners surveyed jumped dramatically. According to Kent Phillips, in 2024, 24% of those surveyed were weekly podcast listeners. In 2024, that figure jumped to 39%.
Despite that huge jump, he noted the figure didn’t change much from AM/FM Radio, meaning podcast listeners added addition time spent listening to audio.
“The huge thing to me in that was weekly listening. It didn’t really come from radio. It’s just additional listening. Maybe it came from TV. It may have come from who knows, people listening longer, people adding more choices. It’s to hard to tell, but definitely podcasts took a big jump. The question is next year will it go back down in a non-election year? We’ll see.”
Potentially most important in the recent study was the perception of listeners among various formats and their feelings toward the length of commercial breaks. Some programmers have shared that potential changes to format clocks could be on the horizon due to the recent changes in the length of qualifying times for Nielsen, down from five minutes to three.
Programmers on the fence, though, about whether or not they should add additional, shorter stop sets or continue with longer commercial breaks aren’t going to get much help from the 1,500 surveyed by Eastlan Ratings and FMR Associates. No consensus was found by those surveyed. Kent Phillips couldn’t do much but chuckle at that revelation.
“Do what you think is best because — either way — you’re going to attract people and tick off people,” he said with a laugh. “We did the question this year, and we had never asked. People are wondering ‘Well, should we do fewer, shorter sets now that we’re doing this because the three-minute rule? Should we do a longer set?’ I thought we would ask because we were doing the survey anyway.
“The big takeaway is there’s no consensus,” Kent Phillips concluded. “So anybody saying that they know exactly what we should do — having a three-minute rule — is lying.”
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I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time talking to researchers for our Digging Through Data series. And while a lot of time was spent discussing emerging platforms like YouTube or the rise of video podcasting, there was one avenue not really discussed all that frequently: Spotify. And I think that should change for the news/talk radio industry going forward.
I’ve pounded the table as much as anyone that if you’re not on YouTube in 2025, you don’t exist to people under the age of 35. While I recognize that most news/talk radio brands are worried about the 35-64 demographic, you should always be trying to attract new customers.
A company like McDonald’s doesn’t just simply say “We’ve got enough people buying hamburgers. We don’t need to get any more of them. These people will be buying forever.” No. They do everything in their power to attract younger customers so they have customers for life. News/talk radio doesn’t have that mindset, but I think needs it.
There are two data points that came out this week that cement the fact — in my mind — that the format needs to look at Spotify as a prioritized platform.
First, do you know how many monthly active users Spotify has? I would almost guarantee it’s more than you would ever guess. It’s 675 million worldwide. Nearly three-quarters of a billion people use the app on a monthly basis. Now, I’m not a rocket surgeon, but that sure seems like a lot of potential listeners to me. Of those 675 million worldwide users, 211 million buy the subscription service for Spotify. That’s 211 million users who are spending money on audio.
Are the majority of those users simply utilizing the app for ad-free music? Yeah. But through the end of 2024, 270 million users are watching video podcasts on the app. Again, a huge opportunity to put your content in front of people who are looking to consume. Look at it like the movie business: Do you know why movie companies buy advertising time for their trailers before a feature film? Because the people who are most likely to go see a movie in theaters are already in the theater. It’s a captive audience of their most likely customers. And that’s what Spotify is — or at least could be — to the news/talk radio world.
The other interesting data point that stood out to me came from The Record — the joint effort from Nielsen and Edison Research. It showed that news/talk radio dominated (my words, not theirs) the AM/FM radio world in the fourth quarter of 2024. The news/talk featured 12.7% of all listening from those 35 and older was with the genre during the quarter. In the 18+ category, news/talk radio accounted for 11.3% of all listening. 18-34? 3.9%. That’s a big drop-off.
You know who is using Spotify? Shockingly, it’s user base isn’t propped up by your Great Aunt Mildred. It’s 18-34 year olds. And who does the news/talk radio format desperately need to build in-roads with? 18-34 year olds! These dots aren’t difficult to connect.
Spoken word audio remains of big interest to every demographic. Podcasting is huge, as evidenced by all sorts of data points shared during our Digging Through Data series. Young people, old people, and everyone in between are consuming spoken word audio in massive amounts. And yet, it feels as if the news/talk radio sphere has missed the boat on the digital world. But it doesn’t mean it’s too late.
Most every radio show shares their content in podcast form. I’d argue, however, that it isn’t a podcast. That’s on-demand audio, and there’s a difference. Media employees are busier than ever, but even if a host and producer just take an hour a week to create podcast-specific content, you’re doing more than the average bear. Plus, it creates additional sales opportunities, allows hosts to stretch their figurative content legs, and maybe allows an avenue to talk about content that might not be of utmost importance to their radio audiences.
But that’s the thing. By taking the time to talk about topics that might be of interest to 18-34-year-olds, you’re guarding against a generational shift. You’re guarding against your audience aging out and eventually — not to be too morbid — literally dying out. Capture them when they’re young, and you’ve got a customer for life. It’s a tried and true method.
If the leaders of the format truly believe that “We’re not in the radio business, we’re in the content business,” like is so often espoused, you have to be platform agnostic. That means embracing different distribution avenues, which puts Spotify just behind YouTube and AM/FM radio as the best platforms to capture new listeners.
Everyone knows the news/talk radio format needs to something — anything — to attract younger audiences. It’s time to actually do something about it. Embrace on-demand, and specific podcasting opportunities, and prioritize platforms like YouTube and Spotify, and reach younger audiences. I doubt you’ll regret it.
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.
This Industry Guest Column is from Audacy Buffalo Senior Vice President and Market Manager Tim Wenger. Wenger is a self-described “recovering” news/talk radio programmer.
“Is the caller there?”
For those of you old enough, or nostalgic enough, to remember TV talk titan Phil Donahue making that frequent exclamation amidst passionate discussions on his show, it reminds me to ask the same question of today’s talk radio.
Are the callers there?
In many cases, the answer may be yes, but they just don’t call in.
Sure, part of the problem may be modern technology and how we all communicate now. Many may be more likely to send a text or message via social media to a host on-air. The problem with that, of course, is there is no emotion. No passion.
People text when they want to tell you something. They call when they care and want to communicate.
If talk radio is the original social media, ponder for a moment, social media … without comments.
It’s like food without spice. Bland.
I put the blame for one-way talk radio squarely at the feet of stubborn talk hosts who adamantly declare that they’re the star of the show and callers detract from them. That can be true, which is why callers do need to be screened and newcomers welcomed by producers and hosts.
Hosts wanting to be in the spotlight always, and new technology, are only a couple of the reasons why we hear fewer callers on talk radio these days.
Is the opening there for the callers to feel welcome?
Simply and periodically saying, “If you want to weigh-in, give me a call at 555-1212” won’t do the trick. A host needs to drive interaction by having a take on whatever they’re discussing, being passionate and animated about it, and then providing a challenge to listeners to add their two cents or challenge you’re thinking altogether.
We all remember college lectures. The ones where the professor just droned on at the lectern, never looking for any way to involve students, or even see if they were awake. The same can be said about one-way talk radio. Is anybody out there? In college, you couldn’t leave. In talk radio? Click!
When pressed about why they don’t work to drum up more interaction and engagement on their shows, hosts often will respond by saying, “I don’t like calls. They don’t add anything.” Yet, when the calls do come in, we hear exclamations from hosts like, “The phone bank is full, when someone hangs up, that opens a line for you.” Doesn’t sound like someone who is against callers, right?
There actually are examples of when callers really aren’t there, because they simply don’t care about what’s being discussed. That’s another issue that’s led to the scarcity of calls to talk radio.
You mean everyone doesn’t want to talk about Beltway politics?
Engaging and interactive talk radio is a “secret sauce”, as I see it. And here’s my recipe:
Topic & Take
It needs to be clear, targeted and have a point that is intelligible quickly. They say the attention span of the new younger demographic is 12 seconds. 12! Let that sink in.
Start The Show
Radio talk hosts can learn from their modern-day TV counterparts in this regard.
TV talk hosts, although full of other flaws, hook the audience immediately and draw them in. There is no time to waste in this regard. Nobody cares what you had for lunch.
Draw Them In
You don’t need to boil every topic into a corny question to fuel engagement.
Draw listeners in with your natural storytelling and pointed take on the discussion, and challenge them to support, build on, or challenge your thinking.
Attach those emotions to the ways they can interact, and the results will follow.
Know When to Move On
Topics of discussion have a shelf life. Few are worthy of a three-hour show, unless there are layers and ways to build upon them. Recognize when it’s time to move on, and have something as good, or better, to move onto and repeat the recipe.
So, “Is the caller there?”
Probably. But you need to hook them, give them a reason to add some spice to the food you’re offering, and be big enough to allow the spotlight to shine elsewhere and provide you an opportunity to shine even brighter than you already are.
Here’s to “A full bank of calls.”
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.
One knock against FOX Sports’ lead NFL color commentator Tom Brady is that due to his status as a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, he is subject to numerous restrictions around the broadcast, such as limited access to players and coaches. For Super Bowl LIX, however, the NFL is reportedly lessening those restrictions in the name of the broadcast.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand and Nate Taylor, Brady can attend pre-production meetings with both Super Bowl teams, something he could not do during the season. However, he won’t be able to watch their practices. During the year, Brady could also not visit team facilities and have conversations with coaches and players before games, but that wouldn’t matter during a neutral site game like the Super Bowl.
Don Yee, who represents Brady as his agent, recently explained that his client plans to stay with FOX in an interview with Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal.
“Tom has had a tremendous amount of fun working with Fox this year, and he’s really excited about the future with Fox and his growth on their team,” Yee said. “And this year was the first year of a long relationship.”
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