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Music Media’s Biggest Opportunity Lies in the Live Event Surge

Mike Gunz
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Music Media’s Biggest Opportunity Lies in the Live Event Surge

Don’t look now, but music media has a massive opportunity heading its way. Throughout the past year, the music industry has seen a dramatic change in how fans are not only listening but also consuming their favorite artists’ music. Most notably through a resurgence in attending live events.

The result has led not only to a shift in how audiences are embracing concerts, but also to an increase in fan expectations. With fans having a limited amount of disposable income, artists, promoters, and record labels are realizing that the bar has been raised as competition increases.

Some even adding top-tier expansions and residencies.

Music media and broadcasters now have an opportunity not only to play hit songs, but also to embed themselves into the culture and hype surrounding this newfound appreciation for live events and enhance those “can’t miss moments.”

Gen Z Proves Music Loyalty

According to a recent poll from TripAdvisor, 55% of music fans are planning to take a trip for a concert or festival this year. For Gen Z, that figure jumps to over 75%. There has been a massive national resurgence of fans seeking IRL (In Real Life) music and concert experiences.

“We’re seeing a clear shift overall to where fans want experiences they can feel. They’re showing up for concerts. Lining up at indie record shops for moments like Record Store Day, and tuning into stations that reflect their communities,” Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers, founder and CEO of Big Picture Media.

Many concerts and festivals feature multiple verticals in an attempt to attract as many fans as possible. Radio can do the same by utilizing storytelling, targeted programming, and social media. Sales teams can also expand their roles with increased programming content leading up to major events.

“Throughout a busy summer of live events, we have seen fans embrace their shared love of specific artists and genres. Many going to extremes to make their experiences more memorable and mark themselves as part of fan communities,” AEG President Paul Samuels recently said while citing a study regarding the shift in fan’s desires for more live content and events.

Live Events Replacing the Algorithm?

Artists are discovering firsthand the name of the game right now is doing whatever they can to win over potential new audiences. The same applies to music media.

Stations can create specialized programming blocks that lean into and explain the experiences bands are offering. The Backstreet Boys continue to go viral for their impressive Las Vegas Sphere residency. Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman brought back the festival and expanded it to more cities after last year’s successful relaunch.

Many within the music industry believe now is the time for radio to get creative.

“One of the biggest opportunities for artists when they are on tour is to really make the biggest impression in each town they play while they are there,” longtime band manager Josh Terry explained. “If artists, their teams, and (some) record labels are adapting their marketing strategies to fans wanting live show experiences. Radio and music media needs to do the same.”

As more fans embrace live events again, music broadcasters have the unique benefit of access. Either directly or indirectly, to artists and live events.

“The opportunity is not in just in promoting an upcoming show. Rather the station owning the conversation before, during and after the event,” one New York City-based radio market manager pointed out.

Embrace and Create the Moment

For decades, radio was known as the place to hear new songs. Unfortunately, with the popularity of cell phones, listeners can hear those same songs on their own.

Music media’s role must now pivot to becoming a storyteller. Capturing and explaining not only the songs but also the moments surrounding them.

“Whether that’s connecting with the local radio station in their format for an interview. A listener only exclusive event. Doing phoners with local press ahead of time. A surprise pop up event. Doing content at a local coffee shop or music store. Even something as small as physically mailing out posters for promoters to plaster the city ahead of time. All of those create moments for fans to discover and increase awareness of what you’re doing and make it special,” Terry explains.

“If done well, you can see your attendance numbers double the next time you’re there. If done really well, you just developed a market that an act can headline in for decades with tremendous demand.”

Those results are something that Ghiraldi-Travers also agrees with.

“When local media and radio get behind festivals and artists early, they don’t just promote events they help build culture. They help drive attendance and create lasting connections between artists and fans. That grassroots energy is what turns a regional event into a destination and keeps live music thriving,” said Ghiraldi-Travers.

For stations that can rise to the fans’ level of energy and expectations, they might very well become part of the shared experience as well.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Cumulus Media Elevates Darlene Park to Regional VP, Central Indiana

BNM Staff
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Cumulus Media Elevates Darlene Park to Regional VP, Central Indiana

Cumulus Media has elevated one of its top market leaders, expanding her responsibilities across Central Indiana. The company announced that Darlene Park has been promoted to Regional Vice President for Central Indiana.

In the new role, Park will oversee stations in Indianapolis, Kokomo and Muncie, adding two country outlets to her existing leadership portfolio.

“Our teams consistently demonstrate exceptional commitment to serving the Central Indiana community,” Park said. “Together, we will continue advancing our strategic priorities while delivering compelling content and meaningful results for our clients.”

Park will continue to guide Cumulus Indianapolis, which includes six stations spanning multiple formats. Those brands include classic hits, rock, country, adult contemporary, CHR and sports talk. Meanwhile, she now adds oversight of WWKI-FM in Kokomo and WMDH-FM in Muncie, both of which program country formats under well-known national branding.

The move reflects continued confidence in Park’s leadership since joining the company in 2023. She has served as Vice President and Market Manager for the Indianapolis cluster during that time. Under her direction, the market has maintained a strong presence across both broadcast and digital platforms.

Before arriving at Cumulus Media, Park built an extensive background in radio sales leadership. She served as Director of Sales for Bonneville International in Denver, overseeing a four-station group. Earlier in her career, she held General Sales Manager roles at Audacy in Denver and iHeartMedia in Chicago.

In addition to her market responsibilities, Park remains active in industry initiatives. She serves on the Sales Advisory Committee for the Radio Advertising Bureau, contributing to broader radio revenue strategies.

Company leadership pointed to Park’s track record as a key reason for the promotion. President of Operations Dave Milner said her ability to build strong teams and deliver results made her a natural fit for the expanded role.

“We are thrilled to promote Darlene to Regional Vice President for Central Indiana, where she will oversee Indianapolis, Kokomo, and Muncie,” said Milner. “Since joining Cumulus Media, Darlene has proven to be a strong leader who builds positive, high-performing cultures. Her ability to inspire teams and drive consistent, impactful results makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead this expanded region.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on MLB “Taking” Marquee Games From Local Networks: “It’s Not Right”

BSM Staff
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Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on MLB “Taking” Marquee Games From Local Networks: “It’s Not Right”

ESPN commentator Chris Russo voiced sharp criticism of Major League Baseball during Wednesday’s edition of First Take, taking issue with the league’s evolving media strategy and its impact on local broadcasts.

Russo focused heavily on MLB’s decision to place the season opener between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants on Netflix rather than regional television. He argued the move reflects a larger pattern of prioritizing revenue over accessibility.

“Think of all the great games that you don’t have a chance to do [on local networks]. Because Major League Baseball, in their ever-ending search to get the almighty dollar. They move the games around,” Russo said.

He then pointed to the Yankees’ local rights holder, YES Network, as an example of how those decisions affect longtime broadcast partners.

“Gee whiz, it’s bad enough. You got to find Netflix,” Russo said. “If you’re YES Network that does 162 games, Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in August, they carry the ball game. This [Opening Night] is a big game for them, and they can’t do it because baseball realizes it’s a marquee game. They take it off YES Network’s plate, and gives it somewhere else. That’s not the right thing to do.”

Furthermore, Russo argued that MLB has developed a habit of shifting its most attractive matchups away from local outlets and toward national or streaming partners. In his view, that leaves regional networks with a diminished schedule.

“You leave all the garbage to YES Network and SNY, and then you take the marquee games Friday night on Apple TV? How many times do you see that? Dodgers and Yankees after the All-Star break on Apple TV? I mean, it’s not right,” Russo said.

Additionally, Russo framed the league’s approach as being driven primarily by financial incentives rather than fan experience or broadcaster relationships.

“Why do they take all the good games and leave those regional networks? Because money, money, money, money, money,” he said.

While MLB has expanded its national and streaming partnerships this offseason with Netflix, NBC/Peacock and ESPN, the strategy has created tension among traditional broadcasters and some fans. Regional sports networks still carry the majority of games and serve as a daily connection between teams and their audiences.

However, Russo’s comments highlight a growing concern among fans. As leagues chase larger rights deals and broader distribution, they risk disrupting the viewing habits that built their fan bases.

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Bomani Jones Amazed How Many People Care About Sports Media Beef

BSM Staff
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Bomani Jones Amazed How Many People Care About Sports Media Beef

Bomani Jones doesn’t quite understand how sports media became a show of its own. Yet, as recent headlines prove, he knows it is not slowing down anytime soon. During a recent episode of his podcast, The Right Time with Bomani Jones, he weighed in on the ongoing back-and-forth involving Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock.

While the dispute has captured attention across platforms, Jones took a step back to examine the bigger picture.

“I am amazed at how many people are able to make a living covering us,” Jones said.

Jones continued to express disbelief at the sheer scale of the sports media ecosystem. He pointed out that fans attend games to watch athletes, not commentators. However, he noted that an entire industry now thrives on analyzing those who cover the games.

“I can name people that make a living talking about me,” joked Jones. “It floors me that people care that much, particularly about sports media.”

That observation set the tone for his broader critique. Jones suggested that coverage of personalities has become almost as prominent as coverage of sports themselves. As a result, media figures often become central characters in their own ongoing storylines.

In fact, Jones compared the dynamic to something closer to entertainment than journalism. He likened many of the public disputes to professional wrestling, where conflict and personality drive engagement.

“It’s like a wrestling shoot every time it feels like somebody decides to log on and get the thing cracking,” Jones said.

He then referenced the ongoing back and forth between ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith and BlazeTV commentator Jason Whitlock. Following an appearance by Whitlock on Cam Newton’s 4th and 1 podcast, Smith responded with a 35 minute response on his YouTube feed.

Even so, Jones made it clear that he does not take the clashes too seriously. Instead, he sees them as part of a larger cycle fueled by audience interest and digital amplification. He also acknowledged that others may invest more emotionally in the debates than he does.

Still, not every media feud earns his attention. Jones explained that what keeps him engaged is not the argument itself, but whether it offers a sense of curiosity or resolution.

“With the media beef, I don’t think there’s a ‘how does it end’ question,” Jones said. “It’s just the back and forth that comes out of it. But if you give me something where I’m like, huh, I kind of got to know how that wraps up. Yep, I could probably stick around.”

Ultimately, Jones framed the Smith-Whitlock exchange as part of a broader trend. Sports media, he argued, now operates within a feedback loop. Personalities generate content, audiences react, and the cycle continues. Because of that, the lines between analysis, entertainment and personal rivalry continue to blur.

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Al Bernstein Joins Team Boxing League As Lead Analyst

BSM Staff
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Al Bernstein Joins Team Boxing League As Lead Analyst

The TBL Team Boxing League is adding a familiar and respected voice to its broadcasts. Hall of Fame announcer Al Bernstein has been named the league’s lead analyst for the upcoming season, giving TBL a veteran presence with decades of experience behind the microphone.

Bernstein began his national broadcasting career in 1980 with ESPN, where he quickly became a trusted voice in boxing. During his time there, he called fights, hosted studio programming and helped bring major bouts to a wider audience. His ability to blend insight with accessibility helped elevate the sport’s television presentation.

Later, Bernstein spent more than 20 years with Showtime, serving as a key figure on Showtime Championship Boxing and ShoBox: The New Generation. That run came to an end in 2024 when the network exited the boxing business.

Still, Bernstein has remained active, contributing to coverage on DAZN and hosting boxing-focused programming. Now, he turns his attention to TBL, a league aiming to reshape how fans experience the sport.

“For the first three seasons, I have enjoyed watching the TBL Team Boxing League and now I’m excited to join its broadcast team,” Bernstein said. “This unique concept has helped create new boxing fans while providing plenty of excitement for existing followers.”

He also pointed to the league’s structure as a key differentiator.

“The team-based format and one-round fighting intervals have created significant drama and compelling storylines,” Bernstein added. “I’m looking forward to being part of season four and documenting its continued growth.”

TBL CEO Kevin Cassidy believes Bernstein’s presence will immediately strengthen the league’s presentation.

“Al’s voice is synonymous with boxing at the highest level,” Cassidy said. “His experience, insight and credibility will bring tremendous value to our broadcasts and help tell the story of our fighters and our league.”

Bernstein was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012 and has served as a ringside analyst for boxing at the Olympic Games. Over the years, he has also earned recognition from several regional and national halls of fame.

Meanwhile, TBL continues to position itself as an alternative to traditional boxing formats. The league features 12 teams representing major U.S. markets and uses a structure built around single-round bouts. Both men and women compete across weight classes, and team scoring determines the final outcome through “Money Rounds.”

As a result, each fight carries added urgency and stakes. With Bernstein now on board, TBL adds instant credibility to its broadcasts. More importantly, it gains a voice capable of guiding both hardcore fans and newcomers through its evolving product.

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LoCash to Serve as Guest Hosts for CT40 with Fitz

BMM Staff
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LoCash to Serve as Guest Hosts for CT40 with Fitz

CT40 with Fitz will have a guest host this week: country duo LoCash will sit in for the regular host.

LoCash, composed of Preston Burst and Chris Lucas, will helm the weekend countdown show usually helmed by Cory “Fitz” Fitzner.

Since releasing their debut single in 2010, LoCash have seen two songs go certified gold — I Know Somebody and One Big Country Song — and another — I Love This Life — be certified platinum.

“Affiliates can expect a seamless transition as they bring Fitz’s high-energy take on the countdown, keeping listeners entertained and plugged into all things country music until his return to the show,” a Skyview Networks spokesperson said about this week’s program.

The country duo is stepping in to host the show as Fitz is away from the program following the death of his father last week.

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Will Cain Mocks Jake Tapper for Hosting Show From Office

BNM Staff
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Will Cain Mocks Jake Tapper for Hosting Show From Office

CNN host Jake Tapper helmed an episode of The Lead last week from his office. Fox News host Will Cain was not impressed.

Last week, Tapper hosted the first hour of his afternoon program from his personal office at the CNN headquarters. The network brought in temporary lighting, a camera crew, and podcast-like microphones for the host to “experiment” with helming the show from his own desk, rather than the studio.

“This is my actual desk, where I do my actual work,” Tapper said. “We thought we would bring you into the space where me and my team do our actual journalism and plan the show every day. So, here we are, giving it a shot.”

Cain, who hosts his Fox News show during the same hour in which Tapper was live from his office, was not impressed.

On his digital and radio show, Will Cain mocked the setup.

“Not only has he cracked the code to look like a podcast, he’s gone full Pat McAfee,” said Cain. “Bobbleheads and tchotchkes. Not professional sports teams, but of former presidents adorn the desk. They’ve done it. They have finally done it.

“He looks right at home in his office. Don’t you understand what they’re communicating? This is the real Jake Tapper,” concluded Cain, in a mocking tone.

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Connoisseur Media Sells South Dakota Stations to Brookings Radio

BNM Staff
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Connoisseur Media Sells South Dakota Stations to Brookings Radio

Connoisseur Media has announced plans to sell its stations in Brookings, Clear Lake, and Volga, South Dakota. The stations were acquired from Alpha Media last year.

In Brookings, KRBK AM and FM will be transferred to Brookings Radio. The company is owned by Cami and Derrick Powers, and Chad Hogie. The company will also acquire KDBX-FM in Clear Lake, and KJJQ-AM and KKQQ-FM in Volga. The sale is pending FCC approval. Both Connoisseur Media and Brookings Radio expected the purchase to close in the second quarter.

“The Brookings market did not fit into the long-term vision we set out for Connoisseur,” said CEO and Founder Jeff Warshaw. “As we pursued a potential sale, we looked for local quality operators to purchase these stations and found that the best operators in the market already worked for us! 

“This is not the first time we have encouraged some of our local management to break into ownership so that they could continue to serve the communities we are so committed to,” he continued. “We are incredibly happy that Cami and her group stepped up to the challenge.”

Cami Powers began her career at KBRK AM and FM in 1994. She’s served as the Market Manager for the company. Meanwhile, Hogie has been the Business Manager for the cluster since 2015.

“Turning this dream into a reality has been incredibly meaningful, and I’m deeply grateful to Jeff and Connoisseur Media for the opportunity,” owner Cami Powers said. “I’m fortunate to do what I love alongside a team of dedicated professionals who share that same passion. Together, we’ll continue building on what we value most—serving our clients, listeners, and community with trusted, locally focused broadcasting.”

“To us, local radio has always been the lifeblood for a close-knit community,” added Hogie. “From local sports, news, weather updates, and community involvement, we want our listeners and advertisers to be as informed and invested in our neighborhoods as we are. Radio is always on, always free, a no-subscription, no-password source of entertainment and information for everyone. We are excited to keep it that way!”

With the sale of these stations, Connoisseur Media will exit the state of South Dakota. It also previously sold its stations in Watertown, South Dakota.

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Gregg Giannotti Declines Idea of Brandon Tierney Guest Spot on WFAN’s ‘Boomer & Gio’

BSM Staff
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Gregg Giannotti Declines Idea of Brandon Tierney Guest Spot on WFAN’s ‘Boomer & Gio’

Gregg Giannotti isn’t interested in extending an olive branch, and he made that clear Wednesday morning as the ongoing dispute with Brandon Tierney continued to unfold on WFAN.

During Boomer & Gio, Gregg Giannotti reacted to Tierney’s latest response on his BT Unleashed YouTube show by dismissing both the substance and presentation of the video. He framed it as more unintentionally comedic than compelling while suggesting that Tierney’s attempt to land pointed criticism ultimately missed the mark in both tone and execution.

“That was one of the most unintentionally funny things I’ve watched in a while,” Giannotti said. “Brandon’s response to everything. He thinks he’s really getting me. He’s got this horrible backdrop that’s got a glare on it. So, it’s like you’re basically watching these things with your hand over your face.”

Following a caller who dialed into the show playing into a narrative that Tierney suggested the day before, Giannotti picked up on the attempt immediately. Rather than de-escalating, Giannotti’s remarks reinforced his earlier stance.

Particularly when addressing Tierney’s suggestion that the two could settle their differences on-air, an idea that has surfaced as the back-and-forth has stretched across multiple days and platforms with increasing intensity. Giannotti rejected that proposal outright, arguing that a joint appearance would do little to benefit the show.

“It was so funny. He’s like, ‘I’ll come on the show. I’ll call the hotline or come in.’ Why do we want to do that,” questioned Giannotti. “So we could see our ratings drop 30 to 60% like they did from our [Boomer & Gio] last hour to your [BT & Sal] first hour when he handed you football? I don’t want to do that.”

The comments arrive after Brandon Tierney spent the past several days responding to Giannotti’s initial criticism. Turning what began as a disagreement over past interactions into a broader and increasingly public exchange centered on credibility, style and the evolving expectations of sports talk radio hosts operating across both traditional and digital platforms.

While Giannotti continued to engage with Tierney’s remarks, co-host Boomer Esiason struck a noticeably different tone. He signaled a preference to move past the dispute rather than extend it further, even as the conversation has become a recurring topic on the show.

“All right. We can all have a little detente now,” Esiason said. “Everybody’s great. Everybody’s got it off their chest.”

Esiason’s comments provided a moment of levity while also underscoring the balance the show must strike between addressing a storyline that has captured listener attention and avoiding the risk of overexposure, particularly as the exchange continues to generate new responses from both sides.

Even so, Giannotti’s refusal to entertain Tierney’s invitation suggests that any resolution will not come through a shared platform.

Tierney shared a response to Giannotti on his YouTube program earlier today saying he’s done discussing the issue, for now.

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Jeremy Boreing: ‘I Never Wanted My Own Show’ at The Daily Wire

BNM Staff
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Jeremy Boreing: ‘I Never Wanted My Own Show’ at The Daily Wire

Jeremy Boreing, the former co-CEO of The Daily Wire, launched the debut episode of his podcast on Tuesday and shared some insight into why he’s making the move.

Boreing — who co-founded the outlet alongside Ben Shapiro — said that he never envisioned that he would need to launch his own show. Which, he shared, was not something he was ever interested in while leading the digital outlet.

“It’s never really been my ambition to have a podcast,” said Boreing. “For the decade that I was running The Daily Wire, people would often ask me when I was going to get my own show. And my answer was always the same: ‘They’re all my show.’ But they’re not anymore.

“Now, if I want to talk to you, I have to do it directly. And that’s a new challenge. It’s not where I thought I would be in life, not where I wanted to be,” Boreing continued. “It’s been a huge change leaving The Daily Wire — not one that I had ever seen coming — but I’m glad to have this opportunity where we might explore some of the issues facing the country and the movement together. I used to say that my mission in life was to fight the left and build the future. And for the most part, that mission hasn’t changed.”

Boreing concluded by noting that while he hopes the podcast is as successful as the shows he helped build at The Daily Wire, his ultimate goal is to “be a constructive part of the conversation.”

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