Home Blog Page 168

KNBR Adds John Lund to Middays, Greg Papa and Greg Silver Exit

John Mamola
-
0
KNBR Adds John Lund to Middays, Greg Papa and Greg Silver Exit

Changes are happening again at KNBR. The radio station is changing up middays in a move that is sure to generate local reaction. John Lund is returning to the station to host the timeslot solo.

What We Know: John Lund’s return signals the end of Greg Silver and Greg Papa’s show. Lund teamed with Papa for most of his Bay Area tenure from 2011-2024. KNBR laid him off in November 2024, moving Silver into his spot. After losing his job, Lund relocated to Arizona. He has been doing part time work since for Westwood One and Arizona Sports. Lund is expected to host the midday show on KNBR starting August 10th. He will continue his relationships with Westwood One and Arizona Sports.

Greg Papa has battled leukemia over the past year. The situation forced Papa to be away from the show. He has not been on the air in months following a return in September of last year. The Bay Area legend recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that he hoped to make a return to his daily KNBR program. Sources tell Barrett Media that if Papa’s health improves KNBR would have interest in a reunion.

Silver joined KNBR in 2023. In addition to working with Papa on the midday show, he has also hosted postgame coverage for Cal football. Greg is the son of accomplished sports writer and reporter Mike Silver. No word on Silver’s status moving forward on Cal programming.

KNBR’s parent company, Cumulus Media are undergoing layoffs today. People in different markets, brands and divisions have been affected.

What’s At Stake: KNBR is in a difficult position here. From a PR standpoint it’s tough to part ways with a show, especially when one of its lead hosts is battling leukemia. If Papa is unable to work after months on the sidelines though, the station does have to provide a solution to excite listeners and advertisers. Adding Lund is a positive as he adds local familiarity and a lengthy relationship with Papa.

With recent reports of tension between KNBR and the San Francisco Giants organization, prior issues in the programming department, and the loss of popular hosts in recent years such as Tom Tolbert and Paul McCaffrey, the brand’s stability and direction are going to be questioned. Restoring local confidence, team relationships and lineup consistency should be top priorities.

What Remains Unclear: Papa’s future as voice of the San Francisco 49ers remains unclear. Last year the team utilized multiple play by play announcers. No word yet on the team’s plan for the 2026 NFL season. This is the first time Greg Papa has been a free agent. Doctors have given him clearance to host shows from his home studio starting in late-July. Whether he appears on KNBR, other local outlets or elsewhere remains to be seen.

What It Means: KNBR has featured three different midday lineups in roughly 20 months. That creates whiplash for listeners. Papa’s ongoing health battle and absence from the radio station unfortunately created a large challenge for Cumulus. The company and station felt a decision needed to be made for the business of the brand. The best possible outcome is Papa’s health improves, and a future reunion with KNBR and Lund follows. We wish the best to Greg in his battle, and to Lund and KNBR in creating stability in middays.

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.

Michael Wilbon Believes Stephen A. Smith Is No Longer A Journalist

John Mamola
-
1
Michael Wilbon Believes Stephen A. Smith Is No Longer A Journalist

ESPN Pardon the Interruption co-host Michael Wilbon says Stephen A. Smith stopped being a journalist years ago. Wilbon delivered the blunt assessment in a new interview with Awful Announcing‘s Brandon Contes.

What We Know: Wilbon spent decades as a columnist at The Washington Post before ESPN turned him into a Pardon the Interruption fixture alongside Tony Kornheiser. Smith similarly built his name as a Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer before ESPN reshaped him into a debate-show star. Wilbon still calls Smith “like a little brother,” insisting the friendship isn’t the issue. However, he argues Smith’s current role has drifted far from that early reporting foundation.

What They Said: (all quotes via Awful Announcing)

Michael Wilbon believes Stephen A. Smith is not a journalist any longer: “Stop. You’re not a journalist anymore. You’re not doing what you did at the Philly Inquirer. Stop, dude. I know what you did there because I was shoulder to shoulder with you at press row and press boxes and practice. Yes, practice. Stop. No, Stephen A. [Smith]’s a show. He’s the show. He knows it. He wants to be the show, and he’s doing a damn good job at it. That’s what he wants to be.”

Michael Wilbon says journalism is more about showing up following criticism: “Stephen A is like a little brother to me, and he’s been there for 30 years. [You’re] Not a journalist anymore. You gotta go to practice. You gotta show up when you write that column that’s negative about the first baseman. Your ass better be at the cage the next day, that’s journalism.”

Michael Wilbon says he’s not a journalist either: “I’m not going to sit here and tell you I’m a journalist. I ain’t going to allow him if he was sitting with me to say, “Oh yeah, Wilbon, I’m a journalist.” No, you’re not. Not anymore. You may go to elements of it when you need to. You can recall it. But stop. They ain’t paying you that much to be a journalist. They’re not.”

What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear whether Smith will respond publicly to Wilbon’s remarks. Wilbon’s response is to the numerous times that Smith has said he still considers himself a journalist.

What It Means: Make no mistake about it. Michael Wilbon and Stephen A. Smith are not just colleagues but also friends with roots that extend many decades. Wilbon’s commentary is simply calling it like he sees it. Whether or not the commentary turns into further debate relies on Smith leaning into his “show” character or not.

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.

Jon Marks On Decision To Shift To Morning Drive On 97.5 The Fanatic: “Not An Easy Decision”

John Mamola
-
0
Jon Marks On Decision To Shift To Morning Drive On 97.5 The Fanatic: “Not An Easy Decision”

Jon Marks is heading to mornings on 97.5 The Fanatic beginning August 17. The shift for Marks was explained during his midday program today on the Philadelphia radio station.

What We Know: Beasley Media Group is promoting Marks from middays to morning drive, pairing him with Andrew Salciunas on the station’s 6-10 a.m. show. The pairing fills the seat left open after John Kincade’s exit following his July 31 broadcast. Meanwhile, Ray Dunne moves from midday producer to on-air co-host, joining Sean Brace for the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. slot. Marks signs off middays next Friday, handing the reins directly to Dunne. Marks discussed the move to mornings and the difficulty with making the decision today on The Fanatic.

What They Said: (All quotes from 97.5 The Fanatic)

Jon Marks on making the decision to move to mornings on 97.5 The Fanatic: “It was not an easy decision at all. I felt like it was what’s best for the station, and it’s what’s best for you two guys as well. You guys will put on a great show, and I know you’re going to pick up right where I leave off next Friday when I sign off and Ray, you take over. But it was not an easy decision, and not one I took lightly either.”

Jon Marks says he couldn’t say no to morning drive this time around: “Being this wasn’t the first time they’ve offered me mornings in the last few years, and I said no last time. To say no again, that would have been it. They’re not going to keep asking. Working with Andrew [Salciunas] is very exciting. So, I said yes. I said yes, knowing that I was going to be leaving one of the one of the better shows that I’ve worked on.”

Jon Marks says moving to mornings with Sean Brace was not brought up: “Andrew [Salciunas] was designated as the morning show host as John [Kincade] was leaving. There was never really a conversation about any of that. It was do you want to join Andrew in the mornings? I said yes.”

Jon Marks on how mornings will not affect his work/life/family balance: “This doesn’t really affect anything but my sleep. It doesn’t really affect my family. My wife will have the kids in the morning. But for the most part, she takes the kids to school every day anyway, except in a pinch. This doesn’t do anything to my family. Honestly, the midday schedule really worked with my schedule. It was great, and I really enjoyed it”

What Remains Unclear: The new morning show doesn’t have an official on-air name yet. Marks also didn’t go into detail on how long the conversations about shifting to mornings went.

What It Means: You can tell Marks had a difficult decision to make. A year after rejoining the Fanatic and welcoming Brace as his full time co-host in March, he contemplated this move heavily. This change reflects internal promotion rather than an outside hire. Moreover, a trust that program director Scott Masteller has in Marks to lead the station on a daily basis.

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.

Scripps to Eliminate More Than 250 Jobs in Streaming Pivot

Garrett Searight
-
0
Scripps to Eliminate More Than 250 Jobs in Streaming Pivot

Scripps is eliminating 268 positions as it reshapes its local news strategy. The company will also shift toward a 24/7 streaming-first news model.

What We Know: Scripps announced Tuesday that it will cut 268 jobs as part of a broader transformation designed to align the company with changing audience habits. The workforce reduction accompanies a move away from traditional broadcast dayparts and toward continuous local news streaming. Initially, about a dozen smaller markets will launch 24/7 local news streams. That strategy will then expand across the company’s station portfolio. Meanwhile, linear television newscasts will continue, but stories will be published when they’re ready instead of waiting for scheduled broadcasts. Scripps is also centralizing digital news production through a new hub model while consolidating operations in select duopoly markets. Additionally, the company plans to expand its use of automation and internally developed AI tools to reduce production work. That strategy is expected to put more journalists into community reporting.

What They Said: “These decisions are being made in service to a mission that is too important to let fade because we weren’t willing to do the hard work of evolving.” -Scripps President/CEO Adam Symson

What Remains Unclear: Scripps hasn’t identified which positions or markets will be affected by the 268 layoffs. The company also hasn’t detailed how quickly every station will transition to the streaming-first model or whether additional staffing changes could follow. Executives are expected to provide more information during Friday’s earnings call and companywide town hall.

What It Means: The changes represent one of the clearest signs yet that groups view streaming as their primary growth platform. Rather than organizing newsrooms around fixed broadcast schedules, Scripps is betting audiences will consume local news continuously. If successful, the strategy could influence how other broadcast groups balance traditional television with digital-first distribution.

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.

Spotify Testing Podcast Ad Skip Button for Premium Users

David Hill
-
0
Spotify Testing Podcast Ad Skip Button for Premium Users

Spotify is testing a skip-ahead button for podcast ads. This includes ads Spotify itself sold to advertisers.

What We Know Spotify Premium has always removed ads between music tracks. However, podcast ads embedded by creators have remained untouched for Premium subscribers. This distinction exists because creators deliver podcasts to Spotify with sponsorships already baked in. The skip button would finally give listeners control over these embedded ad breaks.

What’s at Stake Advertisers paid premium rates specifically for non-skippable podcast inventory. That guarantee shaped the entire podcast sponsorship economy. Podcast creators built business models around predictable sponsor commitments. If listeners skip ads easily, those revenue assumptions crumble. Meanwhile, Premium subscribers finally get what they’ve long demanded.

What Remains Unclear Will Spotify customize skip lengths like PocketCasts does? When does this feature roll out broadly? How will Spotify handle advertiser compensation? The company hasn’t officially announced anything yet. PodNews broke the news, but Spotify remains quiet.

What It Means The podcast monetization model Spotify built its content strategy around faces real disruption. Listeners gain power they never had before. Creators and advertisers lose the protection that made podcast sponsorships attractive. Spotify now sits awkwardly between selling ad inventory and letting users skip it.

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.

Mike Golic Sr Joining Notre Dame Football Radio Broadcast Team

John Mamola
-
0
Mike Golic Sr Joining Notre Dame Football Radio Broadcast Team

Mike Golic Sr. is coming home to Notre Dame. The former Irish standout joins the football radio broadcast team for 2026.

What We Know: Golic will serve as color analyst for the Notre Dame Radio Network this fall. He’ll join returning play-by-play voice Tony Simeone and studio host Johnny Soper. Golic played defensive line for Notre Dame from 1981-84 before a decade-long NFL career. This week, Golic and son Mike Golic Jr. also returned to ESPN Radio, launching The Golics

What They Said: Jim Fraleigh, University of Notre Dame Deputy Athletics Director for Corporate Relations: “We are thrilled to add a voice of Mike’s caliber to our radio broadcast team. As a former player, Mike brings a rare combination of broadcasting expertise and a genuine passion for Notre Dame and college football as a whole. He’ll pair perfectly with the chemistry Tony and Johnny have built over the past two seasons.”

Mike Golic Sr: “Some places never leave your heart; Notre Dame is one of those places for me. To now have the opportunity to serve on the radio team with Tony and Johnny is both humbling and exciting. I am looking forward to every game, and sharing the passion that makes Irish football unlike anything else.”

What Remains Unclear: Notre Dame hasn’t detailed Golic’s game-day schedule or broadcast responsibilities beyond color commentary.

What It Means: Mike Golic comes home, again. Twice in the same week, Golic made his return after six years away to ESPN Radio. Now, he’s returning to where he started his football playing career. In speaking with Golic several weeks ago, his plan is to balance the role with Notre Dame with the daily radio program on ESPN Radio. Moreover, for Notre Dame, they gain a broadcaster with playing experience and national name recognition. Consequently, the radio team pairs Golic’s analysis with Simeone and Soper’s established chemistry. In addition, for fans, that means a veteran voice calling Irish football all season long.

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.

Disney Reports 6.8% Revenue Increase During 2026’s 2nd Quarter

Garrett Searight
-
0
Disney Reports 6.8% Revenue Increase During 2026’s 2nd Quarter

Disney posted higher revenue during its fiscal third quarter. Sports and Experiences fueled the company’s year-over-year growth.

What We Know: The Walt Disney Company reported revenue of $25.25 billion during its fiscal third quarter, which corresponds to the second calendar quarter of 2026. Disney benefited from year-over-year gains across its Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences divisions, highlighting continued momentum in its diversified business as it expands ESPN’s direct-to-consumer strategy and invests in its streaming ecosystem.

What the Numbers Show:

SegmentQ3 FY 2026Q3 FY 2025YoY Change
Entertainment$11.3B$10.7B🟢 ▲ 6.0%
Sports$4.5B$4.3B🟢 ▲ 4.5%
Experiences$10B$9.1B🟢 ▲ 9.7%
Total Revenue$25.2B$24B🟢 ▲ 6.8%

What They Said: “We continue to bolster ESPN’s place as the front door for sports fans as we build out ESPN’s ‘marketplace of sports,’ creating a single destination for fans. To date, we have relationships with the NFL, MLB, FOX One, and – launched just yesterday – the CW Network, where more than 800 annual hours of CW Sports will stream live on the ESPN app for viewers with an ESPN Unlimited subscription plan. We are encouraged that a growing number of subscribers are taking advantage of these options.

“After unlocking a selection of ESPN content on Disney+ domestically in 2024 and expanding it globally since then, we plan to deliver a more robust subset of games for Disney+ subscribers beginning this fall, anchored by additional college football simulcasts, alongside the continued simulcast of our industry-leading college football pregame show, College GameDay. The strategy is to bring more live sports to more users and drive greater engagement on Disney+ and greater upsell to our trio bundle, which includes ESPN Unlimited.” -Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro

What It Means: Revenue growth in every major operating segment suggests Disney’s balanced business model continues to generate results. Meanwhile, ESPN remains central to the company’s long-term strategy. It is pushing the brand deeper into streaming, and bundles live sports with Disney+. The latest quarter also shows that Experiences continues to be Disney’s fastest-growing business, while steady Sports growth reinforces the value of premium live rights as competition for viewers intensifies.

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.

Former Salem Radio Network Host Chris Stigall Wins Missouri Republican Primary Race

Garrett Searight
-
0
Former Salem Radio Network Host Chris Stigall Wins Missouri Republican Primary Race

Former Salem Radio Network host Chris Stigall departed to run for Congress. That appears to have been a good choice, after winning the Republican Primary in Missouri’s 6th District on Tuesday.

What We Know: Stigall captured 44% of the Republican primary vote, defeating Nathan Willett, who finished second with 34%. He’ll now face Democrat Josh Smead, who secured his party’s nomination with 48% of the vote. Both candidates are competing to replace longtime Congressman Sam Graves, who announced earlier this year that he won’t seek another term. Before launching his campaign, Stigall hosted mornings on Salem Radio Network. However, he stepped away from the national radio role to pursue the congressional seat in his home district.

What They Said: “This is such an honor. I tell everyone that I wish they could experience the feeling that I feel right now. When you walk around 33 counties — figuratively –, and you introduce yourself to as many people as possible, and you hope — come election night — that they put their faith in you … it’s the most humbling thing I’ve ever experienced.” -Chris Stigall

What Remains Unclear: The general election campaign is only beginning, so the issues that will define the race remain uncertain. Likewise, it isn’t yet clear how national political groups will invest in the contest or whether either campaign will gain a significant fundraising advantage before November.

What It Means: Stigall’s victory marks another example of a nationally known radio personality transitioning into elected politics. Meanwhile, Salem Radio Network loses another prominent former on-air voice to public service. The November election will determine whether Stigall’s broadcasting profile and primary success translate into a seat representing Missouri’s 6th Congressional District.

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.

Paul Peck, Kevin Sylvester Join Buffalo Bills Radio Coverage On 97 Rock

John Mamola
-
0
Paul Peck, Kevin Sylvester Join Buffalo Bills Radio Coverage On 97 Rock

97 Rock is welcoming back two Buffalo sports mainstays for Bills season. Paul Peck and Kevin Sylvester return to anchor pregame coverage on WGRF-FM in the station’s first year as flagship of the NFL franchise.

What We Know: Peck and Sylvester will host the first two hours of game day coverage, starting four hours before kickoff. Chris Trapasso and Mitch Morse follow with two more hours of analysis. Peck spent 24 years at WIVB-TV and covered the Bills beat for 15 seasons, including all four Super Bowl runs. Sylvester previously worked the Bills Radio Network and later covered the Sabres for MSG Network.

What They Said: Paul Peck: “I’m excited to be a part of 97 Rock’s Bills coverage once again. It’s a full-circle moment for me, having worked on the broadcast from 1998-2008. Teaming up with my friend Kevin Sylvester, we’ll bring insight, analysis and perspective into our weekly game previews. We’ll also bring that famous 97 Rock fun and attitude. We’ll have Bills fans ready for kickoff every week.”

Kevin Sylvester: “The opportunity to connect with Bills fans through the iconic 97 Rock is incredibly exciting. The chance to work with Paul again made the decision an easy one. I have a feeling two hours won’t be enough!”

Joe Russo, Program Director, 97 Rock: “Together, Paul Peck and Kevin Sylvester bring decades of experience covering the teams, players, and moments that have defined Buffalo sports. Their deep local roots, combined with their passion for entertaining fans, make them the perfect team to help launch a new era of Bills coverage on 97 Rock. We are so excited to welcome them to our team.”

What Remains Unclear: Terms of the agreements are unknown. Details about extra Bills Mafia content are still developing. Meanwhile, Peck continues his UB football and basketball play-by-play role alongside his new Bills duties.

What It Means: For 97 Rock, the move signals a new push into Bills game day content with the rights shifting from crosstown rival WGR. Fans get four straight hours of local expertise before kickoff. For Peck, it’s a return to a broadcast he first joined in 1998. Overall, the lineup blends nostalgia with fresh NFL insight heading into the season.

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.

Nick Jordan Exit Reshapes Indianapolis B105.7 & 97.1 Hank Programming

David Hill
-
0
Nick Jordan Exit Reshapes Indianapolis B105.7 & 97.1 Hank Programming

Nick Jordan has departed 97.1 Hank WLHK/Indianapolis. The APD/MD/afternoon host also served the same roles at sister AC station WYXB B105.7.

What We Know Jordan joined both stations last year from WNCB/Raleigh, where he held similar programming duties. Program Director Sean Copeland is actively seeking his replacement for both properties. The new APD/MD/afternoon host will serve both WLHK and WYXB simultaneously. That’s a significant dual-station responsibility in the Indianapolis market.

What’s at Stake Radio One needs to quickly fill these combined programming leadership roles. The AC/country daypart significantly impacts both stations’ competitive positioning in the market. Losing an on-air host is one challenge. Losing that same person’s programming directorship creates operational urgency across the cluster.

What Remains Unclear The exact reason for Jordan’s departure hasn’t been publicly disclosed yet. The timeline for finding a replacement remains undetermined. Whether Copeland might promote internally or conduct an external search is still unclear.

What It Means Talent turnover continues reshaping the Indianapolis radio landscape in meaningful ways. Jordan’s multi-station role demonstrates how markets like Indianapolis increasingly demand versatility from program directors and hosts alike. Copeland will prioritize candidates who thrive in dual-station environments and understand programming synergies.

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.

1...167168169...2,883Page 168 of 2,883