ESPN’s debut of live WWE programming on its linear networks delivered encouraging early results. WrestleMania 42 simulcast windows on ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 1.72 million viewers Saturday and Sunday evening, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
Those numbers exclude ESPN Unlimited viewers, where the full event streamed exclusively.
This was the first time a WWE WrestleMania event was broadcast on traditional liner television. Wednesday, the WWE noted the two-night event was one of the highest grossing events in company history. Gate, sponsorship, merchandise, and digital metrics all hit record or near-record levels
ESPN is currently paying a reported $325 million annually for WWE Premium Live Events on their ESPN Unlimited plan.
The pre-show countdown specials also performed well. The one-hour lead-in on Saturday attracted 676,000 viewers, while Sunday’s countdown show reached 750,000 viewers. These figures add further context to WWE WrestleMania 42 viewership, showing steady interest leading into both nights.
With the event placed against both NBA and NHL postseason play on other networks, the viewership should considered positive being it was a company first. ESPN has not released any additional data on the number of added subscriptions the ESPN Unlimited plan received during the two-night event.
These were the TV ratings for the WrestleMania simulcasts on ESPN2 (Saturday) and ESPN (Sunday). Note these numbers do not include everyone who was watching on the ESPN Unlimited streams, which had the whole shows both nights. @FOS
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Podtrac has released its March multi-channel podcast rankings. It shows The MeidasTouch Podcast besting The Joe Rogan Experience for the top spot.
The MeidasTouch Podcast and the show from Joe Rogan remained steady in their positions from the February rankings.
However, the two shows have drastically different distribution methods to earn the top two positions. The majority of consumption for The MeidasTouch Podcast comes from video. It utilizes both Spotify and YouTube for its video distribution. Consumers use clips of the podcast on platforms like TikTok and YouTube more than they use Apple Podcasts and other RSS feeds for the audio-only version, Podtrac data shows.
Meanwhile, just over half of The Joe Rogan Experience‘s consumption comes from the audio version of the show. Similar to MeidasTouch, Joe Rogan’s show also has a strong video podcast component with Spotify and YouTube. A significantly smaller portion of Rogan’s audience consumes the show through clips.
Elsewhere in the top 10 shows, NPR News Now dropped one spot to fourth. It was jumped by The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett. The Daily, which features an audience almost exclusively of audio listeners, was fifth.
Both Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson saw their programs slide during March. Owens’ show fell four places to ninth, while The Tucker Carlson Show fell one position to 10th.
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Yesterday, change began at Boston’s sports radio WEEI as Andy Hart and Nick ‘Fitzy’ Stevens departed their roles in afternoon drive. For almost two years, Hart, Stevens, and former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson attempted to tackle the giant behemoth that is Felger & Mazz on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
The experiment failed, much like its predecessors. Going up against a show on your direct competition that has been together since the summer of 2009 is difficult. Finding an audience and leaping ahead of the Sports Hub for the first time since the spring of 2011 is even more strenuous. Combine that market equity and ratings success, then add in the rights to three of Boston’s four major sports properties. There’s an old saying: that’s a tough hill to climb.
However, the formula for WEEI has been in constant flux over the last several years. The station has made changes to the afternoon drive daypart five separate times since 2018, including yesterday. Now, with an announcement coming Monday morning on The Greg Hill Show, the question isn’t who will be in afternoons. Instead, it’s whether WEEI can ever regain its presence in a space dominated by the Sports Hub.
While speculation is already rampant about who could be the next voices in afternoons, a bigger question faces the team at WEEI. With as much turnover as the station has had in recent years, what defines a win?
98.5 The Sports Hub has morphed into the 1927 New York Yankees. Yes, I’m using that comparison because of the level of domination the Sports Hub has possessed since its launch. While the competition was closer with dynamic personalities like Kirk Minihane and Gerry Callahan, the gap has widened since their departures.
Change Is Constant
The most recent changes should come as no surprise. WEEI afternoons was often the lowest-rated show on the weekday lineup. The show had little momentum against Felger and Mazz, and constant change versus consistency is never a winning formula.
Don’t let a dust-up between Stevens and Johnson last week fool you. If an announcement is already planned for Monday, the changes have been in the works for some time. Boston is not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants market. Changes are planned, lined up, and timed.
Maybe the writing was on the wall for Hart and Stevens, and that may have played into the exchange between Stevens and Johnson last week.
However, what defines a win when you’re down 17 runs in the first inning? That’s what Audacy management must decide.
Think Differently
It’s not a concession to understand and acknowledge that the ratings battle may already have been won, and decisively. However, where WEEI can chip away at its competitor’s advantage is by creating a program that generates noise, engages on social, and finds new ways to drive revenue through connection and personalization.
It needs something with an it factor that provides lift, not only in ratings but also in prestige, curiosity, and reach. WEEI can’t beat The Sports Hub on legacy talent, but it has the opportunity to dominate in areas where its rival does not.
For instance, when I first began with Barrett Media, one of the first pieces I wrote compared how WEEI and 98.5 The Sports Hub reacted after the Boston Red Sox made a late-night signing of Alex Bregman. I examined how both stations addressed the news when it mattered most: morning drive. WEEI was far ahead of its competition in content, social, and digital engagement.
Those are the types of wins that carry weight moving forward in defining success for sports radio. It’s no longer about capturing an extra quarter hour or meter. It’s about the impact you make where the audience and ad dollars are going.
So, can WEEI find its mojo once again? Of course it can. It just requires thinking differently than it has before. Five changes to the daypart in the last eight years tell the story. The thought process and approach in those instances—chasing the next shiny object—didn’t amount to much in Beantown.
At some point, WEEI has to stop trying to out-‘Felger & Mazz’Felger & Mazz in afternoons. That game was decided years ago.
The path forward isn’t about catching up—it’s about carving out something different, something that cuts through in ways the competitor doesn’t. Because in 2026, winning isn’t just about ratings books. It’s about relevance, reach, and revenue. When a brand wins on connection, creativity, and consistency, the definition of victory changes.
WEEI doesn’t need to win the old battle. It needs to pick a new one—and commit to it.
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If you follow the NFL, you know Richard Sherman. His career began in Compton, California and rose to prominence at Stanford. It continued through eleven seasons at the highest level in the National Football League. Sherman’s success has carried into his post-playing career, reaching rare heights at just 38 years old.
Since his playing days, Sherman has become one of sports media’s fastest-rising personalities. Recently, he earned his second Sports Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Sports Personality category for emerging on-air talent. As he enters his fifth season as one of Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football analysts, he remains humbled by the recognition.
“Grateful that people are recognizing the hard work you’re putting in year after year. It’s also a testament to the people you have around you,” said Sherman. “It’s a fun job to come to with Prime Video, and it’s good that people can see that.”
For Sherman, a role in sports media was always part of the plan. Football is a game he grew to love at a young age, and he couldn’t imagine not being around it in some capacity as a career.
While still a player, Sherman took advantage of opportunities such as the NFL Broadcast Bootcamp, alongside others including Jason Kelce, Nate Burleson, and his partner during the event, Jason McCourty.
Utilizing that training, Sherman received a call about a potential opportunity with Prime Video before deciding to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. Since stepping away from the league after that season, he says he has grown “leaps and bounds” as an analyst. He transitioned immediately from the field to broadcasting.
“It was a lot easier to grow because Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth were doing the same thing that I was doing. Going straight from the field to the desk. That made it easier because it provided a locker room type of environment,” said Sherman. “We’ve grown together in our roles with great help from producers and staff who constructively critique your performance to help you improve.”
Those critiques are ones Sherman holds in high regard. He remains a student of the game. Sherman says he’s always looking to incorporate characteristics and approaches from his colleagues in media into his own work on Prime Video. While there’s no true formula for what makes a great analyst, Sherman says his approach centers on three key principles.
“Being honest, organic, and genuine to who you are. Not trying to create some character of who you are, but being transparent and simplifying the game,” said Sherman. “Not every fan knows the game as well as we do. So, to take complex points and simplify them for people so they can understand and enjoy the game as much as you do… That’s key.”
Branching Out the Brand
That same approach carries over to his highly successful Richard Sherman Podcast. For nearly four years, Sherman has teamed up with The Volume to provide another outlet for fans to connect with him on a deeper level.
“When you do a podcast, it allows you to be more variable and wider breath of opinion than when I was a player during press conferences,” said Sherman. “The podcast space is pretty crowded today. There’s a variety of opinions and perspectives out there. I just try to give my best version of what I think and see the game.”
Sherman says the podcast focuses on the game while highlighting the stories of the players who compete. While he admits he isn’t overly focused on data related to consumption, he emphasizes the importance of connecting with the audience on a human level.
“You can admit when you’re right, but more importantly admit when you’re wrong. People have a respect level for that when you admit you’re wrong. Nobody is perfect. These are human beings, and things can change in a heartbeat,” said Sherman. “You must be flexible and adapt to the environment you’re given while remaining authentic. People respect that.”
While he surveys the digital landscape for additional information to help shape his weekly discussions, Sherman says he does not base his opinions on the views of other creators. However, he does study how other podcasters present content and conduct their shows, believing there is always something to learn.
As a former player, Sherman avoids making his critiques personal. While some creators lean heavily into personal criticism, his experience in the locker room provides a different perspective.
“In terms of players that are playing, I try not to take any personal shots. I will try to keep it about the game. I’ve probably fallen victim once or twice to going after a guy that I wasn’t playing well… But that was something I tried to avoid when I entered this industry, because I know what it’s like to be personally attacked,” explained Sherman.
Offering Advice to the Next Generation
With success on and off the field, Sherman isn’t afraid to offer advice to those who seek it. With the NFL Draft beginning this evening, he reminds every player selected that the draft is only the start of the journey.
Sherman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He understands how easy it can be for players to feel they’ve arrived. However, his advice is to stay grounded and focused on what lies ahead.
“Keep the main thing the main thing, and stay focused on the bigger picture,” said Sherman. “it’s realizing a dream, and there should be excitement and celebration around that. If you get too lost in that, that’s when you start to slip and things start to move really fast.”
During his time traveling with Prime Video over the past four seasons, Sherman has also shared this advice with current players, especially those interested in pursuing a media career after their playing days.
“I have a lot of those conversations, and I try to advise and mentor as best I can. There’s only so many seats on television, and so many spots in sports media overall,” said Sherman. “That’s why I always suggest the NFL Broadcast Bootcamp that I attended run by Tracy Perlman… You have to get your reps. Not everybody is going to get the opportunity fresh off the field like I was blessed to get.”
Although Sherman is content in his current role with Prime Video, he hasn’t ruled out a future in the broadcast booth. He prefers the desk for pregame and postgame coverage. Even if he’s auditioned for booth roles with FOX Sports and CBS Sports.
However, he felt he did not yet have enough experience to meet his own standards at the time of those auditions. He remains open to future opportunities as they arise.
With a continued desire to stay connected to the sport he loves, Sherman hopes to keep adding new experiences to his resume.
“Long term, I want to be near the league. If there’s other avenues that I can help the NFL, I’m also open to those. I’m going to try to shadow a few general managers. I’d like to start exploring that avenue to see if that’s a fit for the future… I want to be as well-equipped as I can be if that opportunity ever arises,” said Sherman. “I’m kind of playing it by ear and staying prepared for any opportunities that are out there. But I’m enjoying my time with my teammates at Prime Video and see myself doing that for the foreseeable future.”
In many ways, Richard Sherman’s second act looks a lot like his first—driven, intentional, and rooted in preparation. The same traits that carried him from Compton to Stanford to an All-Pro NFL career are now shaping a voice that resonates just as strongly off the field.
Whether it’s on Thursday nights, behind a microphone, or mentoring the next generation. Richard Sherman isn’t chasing relevance—he’s building it, one honest, thoughtful rep at a time.
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A few weeks ago while listening to new music, I watched the video for Kacey Musgrave’s Dry Spell. She’s wandering around a grocery store in a baggy hoodie and basketball shorts, looking exactly how the broadcast radio industry feels right now.
She sings, “It’s been a real long 335 days, and the last time it wasn’t good anyway.” If that doesn’t sound like your last few revenue pacing meetings, you’re lying.
What if it’s just a dry spell? Between headlines about massive mega-corporate bankruptcies, layoffs, and companies spreading their local teams so thin you can see right through them, it’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves. What if we are, as Kacey puts it, “Lonely with a capital H… sitting on the washing machine”? Do we think waiting for some magical spreadsheet or corporate mandate will make us feel alive again? The spin cycle just ended. DO SOMETHING!
She sings, “Ain’t nobody’s tool up in my shed.” And yeah, when the big corporate entities strip away resources to save a buck, the shed feels pretty empty.
But how do you actually end a dry spell?
You definitely don’t do it by walking the aisles in your metaphorical sweatpants, crying about how nobody wants to take you home anymore, and publishing think-pieces about your own irrelevance or the end of a medium that still reaches over 85% of Americans each week.
In the second verse, Kacey asks the million-dollar question: “What’s a self-respecting girl to do? … I think it’s time for me to take the bull by the horns.”
That right there is ownership. “If not us, then who?”
If you want to break the drought, you have to get out there and romance the audience again. You don’t win people over by playing it safe or phoning it in. You win by delivering an A+ experience. The programmers, talent, and managers who are actually ending their dry spells are putting on a damn show. They are leaning into their creativity, embracing the suck of the daily grind, and holding themselves accountable to an incredible standard.
They are out in the community, shaking hands, and reminding the market why local radio is the ultimate companion. They’re not waiting for permission to be great. They are putting actual boots on the ground (and under the bed).
And internally? We have to stop getting in our own way.
Kacey sings, “Ain’t nobody to roll with in the hay, and nobody but the chickens are getting laid.” You want to break the dry spell? Get ALL of your departments aligned. Sales and Programming need to metaphorically roll in the hay together. (What’s that HR on line 1?… err ok) When we collaborate to build campaigns that actually thrill both the client and the listener, everybody scores.
It is time to change out of the baggy hoodie. (although I do appreciate some baggy hoodie time)
Stop focusing on the constraints and start building the kind of local brand that makes you the envy of the industry. We have the most powerful, intimate medium in the world—we just have to be good enough for people to want to connect with us in the first place.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get off the washing machine and get back to work. We’ve got bacon to bring home, and if we don’t end this drought soon, the only things getting laid around here will be the chickens—and they don’t buy ad time or get Nielsen surveys.
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The phrase “baptism under fire” is derived from both Scripture and the military. While sports is certainly not as weighty as either of those topics, the phrase still fits the debut of ESPN’s newest SportsCenter anchor, Madelyn Burke.
The erstwhile CBS Sports HQ, New York Giants, and Sports Illustrated reporter and host was thrust into the spotlight on April 6, 2026, in her SportsCenter debut.
Burke’s maiden voyage that night came in the aftermath of the men’s college hoops National Championship game, in which Michigan defeated UConn. The night also featured a full slate of NHL, NBA, and MLB games.
Mind you, Burke is no TV rookie.
In addition to her aforementioned work, she also served as a host and/or reporter for Prime Video, Bleacher Report, FanDuel, the LA Clippers, FOX Sports LA, Comcast, and other outlets. Still, none of those roles carried a spotlight as bright and powerful as SportsCenter.
Burke handled the moment with graceful aplomb. There were no glitches, flubs, or hesitations. She was fully in her element and more than ready. On top of her impressive resume, Burke has crafted a strong social media presence. She posts clips of her work while bringing followers inside the studio and behind the scenes. This has definitely helped familiarize her with mainstream sports viewers.
SportsCenter has been around since 1979 but remains one of the most coveted positions in sports broadcasting. Moreover, it is a star maker.
Even the familiar six bars of the opening theme have become part of the American lexicon. You know what I’m talking about: “da da dum, da da dum.” Burke fits perfectly into the SportsCenter realm.
Build for the Big Stage
She is amiable, pleasant to listen to, and well-informed. She is also unafraid to inject her own personality and humor into the broadcast. Which is quite rare for a SportsCenter neophyte.
Right from the start, she seemed like she belonged. There was no spring training, OTAs, or warmups. You want to come to ESPN? You want to be a SportsCenter anchor? OK, your first show will be on one of the biggest sports nights of the year.
Based on her performance, Burke’s reply seemed to be, “Hold my beer.”
In her subsequent SportsCenter stints, Burke has been even better.
On April 15, she appeared alongside fellow anchor Kevin Connors. Burke smoothly moved through Mariners versus Padres highlights with terrific poise and timing. Later in the show, she conducted a clean split-screen interview with ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, discussing the NBA play-in game between the Sixers and Magic.
Connors, one of the best and most unsung talents at ESPN, and Burke established a strong rhythm on this edition of SportsCenter, alternating on MLB highlights as the show progressed. I really like Burke’s pacing and tone on highlights. She has a relaxed style and knows when to raise the excitement level or keep it on an even keel.
This was a fast-moving edition of SportsCenter. Rapidly cutting back and forth from baseball to basketball. Again, Burke was up to the task.
In an interview with Sixers center Andre Drummond, Burke nicely opened her question with the line, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” She then asked Drummond, not traditionally a three-point threat, about a huge trey he made against Orlando. She also noted that Drummond has been working to add the long-distance shot to his arsenal this year.
Given that it was April 15, Tax Day, Burke added a clever turn of phrase while introducing a rundown of some of the most “taxing” games in recent sports history. She and Connors then transitioned smoothly to a SportsCenter Top 10.
Ability To Pivot
With ESPN offering comprehensive, multi-platform coverage of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Burke jumped right into the fray on the April 16 SportsCenter with a look ahead to Night 1 matches.
She leaned into the moment, having fun with highlights of the various combatants. Subsequently, Burke conducted a lengthy interview with WWE broadcaster Michael Cole. She asked Cole what he thought about the first-ever live airings of WrestleMania on ESPN and ESPN2.
Cole, who joined WWE in 1997, responded emotionally, “I never thought in a million years that we’d ever be putting WrestleMania on ESPN or ESPN2.” Burke did a really solid job in this interview, asking specific questions about upcoming matches and the WWE superstars participating.
Again, this is not Burke’s first TV rodeo. She has handled highlights, interviews, and reporting at previous stops. However, it cannot be overstated that moving to ESPN and SportsCenter—both late night and prime time—represents a significant step up.
Her ability to deliver breaking news and highlights, while mixing in interviews and commentary across a packed sports landscape, is outstanding.
On the April 18 SportsCenter, alongside veteran ESPN anchor David Lloyd, NHL playoff hockey took center stage. Once again, Burke’s personality and highlight narration matched the drama and importance of the games.
Later, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins joined Lloyd and Burke at the anchor desk as she powered through highlights of Game 1 between the Hawks and Knicks. Burke and Lloyd created a strong exchange with the vociferous Perkins, drawing out his best with thoughtful questions and follow-ups about the game and the series.
Discussing the Rockets vs. Lakers first-round series, Burke asked Perkins about the absence of Kevin Durant in Game 1 due to injury. This led to a strongly worded response, with Perkins stating that, at some point, a star player has to put his body on the line for his team.
A Star in the Making
ESPN has long been at the forefront of hiring qualified and gifted women to its roster of talent. While Burke clearly has her own style, you can see elements of some of the best attributes from past SportsCenter anchors.
The intelligence of Robin Roberts, the wit of Linda Cohn, the pleasant nature of Ashley Brewer Kaminsky. The power of Suzy Kolber, and the calm professionalism of Chris McKendry. Burke could not have joined this impressive list at a better—or more challenging—time.
She arrived at the convergence of March Madness, the start of the NBA and NHL stretch runs and playoffs, Major League Baseball’s opening month, and the NFL Draft. Burke moved through this gauntlet like Rory McIlroy through the second round of this year’s Masters. She has also shown the ability to flourish alongside various ESPN colleagues.
That adaptability is a strength, as the network regularly mixes and matches talent on any given day.
With SportsCenter incorporating more interviews and commentary alongside traditional highlights, Burke’s versatility is essential to her success. Her run at ESPN has just begun, but so far, she has been supremely confident, comfortable, and competent.
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30 years is a long time in television, and even longer in the ever-shifting world of political media. Fox News Sunday marks that milestone this weekend. It’s celebrating an anniversary that stretches back to April 28, 1996 — before Fox News Channel even existed. Shannon Bream, who’s helmed the program since 2022, sat down to reflect on the show’s history, its evolution, and where she hopes to take it next.
“The fact that Fox News Sunday started before Fox News Channel existed is a really interesting nugget,” Bream said. “Our founders wanted to get on the map with our network show. So Tony Snow kicked off Fox News Sunday several months before we finally launched the channel.”
Snow anchored the program from 1996 to 2003, building its early identity before moving on to other pursuits — including a stint as White House Press Secretary. Chris Wallace then carried the torch from 2003 through 2021, staying nearly two decades before his departure. Bream stepped in as full-time host of the show in 2022, bringing her Supreme Court expertise and a lighter touch to the franchise.
“I didn’t get a chance to know Tony very well because he passed away too young. We didn’t really cross paths at Fox,” she said. “It’s been fun for me to hear stories from people who worked with him. We still have folks who worked on the initial Fox News Sunday who are at Fox, which is a treasure trove of information and stories. To hear the way Tony tackled the show versus the way Chris tackled the show. He came in, and we did a fun interview looking at his 18 years on the show. Everybody has contributed in different ways. There have been exciting moments. It’s been a lot of fun to see that 30 years has gone so quickly.”
A Different Kind of Sunday Show
Bream’s vision for Fox News Sunday has pushed the program beyond its traditional political roundtable format. Single-theme shows — and traveling to different parts of the country — have become a hallmark of her tenure.
“We’ve tried to do interesting single-themed shows, which have taken us all over the country and given us a chance to do deep dives,” she explained. “Like sitting down with Sam Altman in California to do an hour on AI, going to the Heartland to visit a multi-generational family farm to talk about how policies in DC, tariffs, and regulations affect their farm. We’ve done deep dives on crime and education. Those single-theme shows have been a lot of fun and hopefully informative for our viewers. We try to take a more hands-on look at how policy driven out of DC affects Americans across all kinds of backgrounds.”
The shift wasn’t accidental. Bream says the longer format gave her something she couldn’t get elsewhere.
“I think longer-form interviews than I was getting to do on other shows at Fox,” she said. “When this opportunity came along, I thought we get more time to dig in. To try to get people off their talking points when we can. And to get people from opposing parties to come on together and have important conversations.”
Booking guests remains both the reward and the grind. Balance is a priority — and earning trust with guests who haven’t appeared on the program before takes deliberate effort.
“For a lot of people, if they don’t know you well and don’t have a history with you, it takes relationship-building to get them to come on,” Bream said. “Our goal is to have a very balanced show, and we’re committed to that every week. Whether it’s Governor Pritzker, Governor Hochul, or Tim Walz when he was a vice presidential nominee, we want people across the political spectrum to come on as guests. We haven’t had one say they wouldn’t come back.”
What’s Next for Fox News Sunday
The 30th anniversary doesn’t feel like a stopping point to Bream — it feels like a launching pad. America’s 250th anniversary is already driving programming decisions, and her wish list of guests keeps growing.
“I’ve had several of the Supreme Court justices. But for me there’s a kind of wish list. I want every single one of them at some point,” she said. “I also cover the court, so that’s my first love: the legal side of what we do in DC. To get all of them to sit down at some point, one by one or in combination, would be a real achievement for us.”
Her ambition extends beyond the guest roster. The show’s expanding travel schedule and the approaching national milestone have her energized heading into the next chapter.
“We’re doing interesting things for the 250th anniversary of the country that will take us to different locations,” Bream said. “During campaign years, I enjoy traveling to different states and hearing different voices. From places like the Iowa State Fair to traditional sit-down interviews, we want to keep changing it up and seeing where our audience wants to go.”
At its core, though, Fox News Sunday remains what it’s always been: a platform for accountability and conversation at the highest levels of American public life. Bream carries that responsibility with clear eyes.
“I still pinch myself regularly,” she said. “It’s very much my dream job, so it feels like a privilege and a great responsibility. I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years brings.”
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Money talks. And right now, it’s screaming at podcast listeners and creators alike — just in very different ways.
New data from Magellan AI shows the top 15 podcast advertisers spent nearly $65 million in March alone. That’s a staggering figure. For context, Cumulus Media — a company operating 394 radio stations — generated comparable revenue per month during the final quarter of 2025. Apples to tomatoes, sure. But the sheer scale of that number still stops you cold.
So it’s no mystery why high-profile creators are chasing podcasting. The dollars are real, they’re growing, and the barrier to entry is low. If you’re a creator with an audience and a microphone, you’d be leaving money on the table by ignoring those figures. The gold rush is on — and for good reason.
Here’s where it gets complicated, though.
Sounds Profitable’s “The Podcast Landscape 2025” study reveals a tension that should concern every creator and advertiser paying attention. Heavy listeners — the most valuable audience segment in podcasting — are more likely to stop listening because of irrelevant ads than the average listener. Yet they’re less sensitive to total ad volume than you’d expect.
Think about what that means for a moment. Your most engaged, most loyal podcast listeners can tolerate more ads. But those ads better mean something to them. Hit them with irrelevant spots, and they’re gone. That’s a narrow margin of error — and it’s one that too many in the space aren’t taking seriously enough.
Ideally, you’d want the opposite dynamic. You’d want heavy listeners to shrug off irrelevant ads and bristle at high ad loads. That would make scaling revenue much easier. But that’s not the reality. And when you’re building a business around scale, those numbers don’t work in your favor if you’re not being precise.
So what does this mean for the podcast space going forward? A few things.
First, programmatic advertising matters more than ever. Spray-and-pray ad placement isn’t a strategy — it’s a liability.
Second, hyper-targeted advertising needs to move from a “nice to have” to a non-negotiable. The audience will tell you when you’ve gotten it wrong, and they’ll do it by leaving.
Third — and this is the part that should keep creators up at night — there’s a vicious cycle waiting to swallow anyone who gets this wrong. Irrelevant ads drive away listeners. Fewer listeners drive down rates. Lower rates push creators to run more ads to maintain revenue. More ads drive away even more listeners. Eventually, you’re not a thriving podcast operation. You’re AM/FM radio. And I can’t imagine that’s the destination anyone in podcasting had in mind when they started.
The advertising money flowing into podcasting is real and it’s remarkable. But it comes with a responsibility that the space can’t afford to ignore. The best creators will treat their audiences like the finite, valuable resource they are. The ones who don’t will learn the lesson the hard way.
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Changes are underway in afternoon drive at WEEI, as the station adjusts its weekday lineup. Barrett Media has learned that both Andy Hart and Nick ‘Fitzy’ Stevens are no longer with the Boston sports radio brand.
Changes have already been made to the station’s website removing WEEI Afternoons with Ted Johnson Jr., Andy Hart and Nick ‘Fitzy’ Stevens. In its place, the site now lists generic WEEI programming during the timeslot.
Wednesday’s show reflected the shift. Only Johnson appeared during the afternoon program, and is expected to remain in the daypart. Evening host Christian Arcand filled in as host on Wednesday. A station announcement is expected at 9am on Monday during the Greg Hill Show to announce the new program.
Hart and Stevens have not commented online about their absence.
Hart joined WEEI in 2019. He moved to afternoons in August 2024. Stevens also joined the station in 2019. He earned a promotion to afternoons at the same time. Johnson joined Hart and Stevens in afternoon drive in January 2025.
The adjustments follow recent cuts at parent company Audacy. The company conducted layoffs across multiple markets earlier this month.
***This is a developing story. Barrett Media will update with further information when provided.***
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Cox Media Group has named Jay Shannon as Operations Manager of its San Antonio cluster.
Shannon joins after spending more than 30 years programming stations in the Lone Star State. Most recently, he served as Program Director of Mix 102.9 and Star 102.1 for iHeartMedia Dallas. He exited that role in January 2025 after just under a decade.
He also worked at iHeartMedia Austin, where he rose to the role of Senior Vice President of Programming before moving to Dallas.
“I’m beyond ecstatic to be joining the CMG San Antonio cluster,” said Shannon. “To be a part of one of the strongest radio groups in the country — with top-performing heritage formats — is truly a gift that’s not taken lightly. I’m thankful for this amazing opportunity.”
In his new role, Shannon will oversee 99.5 KISS (Rock), 106.7 The Eagle (Classic Rock), KONO 101.1 (Classic Hits), HITS 105.3 (Hot AC), Y100 (Country), KKYX 680 (Classic Country), and KONO-AM 860 (news/talk).
“With more than three decades in radio, Jay brings a combination of experience, leadership, and respect across the industry,” said Cox Media Group San Antonio Vice President/Market Manager Mark Shecterle. “I’m excited to have Jay join CMG San Antonio and work alongside our talented team to help lead our strong group of radio stations.”
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