Home Blog Page 185

The 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit Welcomes Murphy, Sam & Jodi, Tim Roberts, Steve Salhany, James Kurdziel and Devin Steel

Jason Barrett
-
0
The 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit Welcomes Murphy, Sam & Jodi, Tim Roberts, Steve Salhany, James Kurdziel and Devin Steel

We are three and a half months away from hosting one of the media industry’s most important conferences. The 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit presented by Point to Point Marketing is coming to New York City June 30-July 2, 2026. This year’s show features one full-day of news media, one full-day of sports media, and for the first-time ever, one full-day of music radio. News runs on June 30th, Sports on July 1st, and Music on July 2nd. I am excited to bring it to life and hope you’ll make time to attend. Tickets are available here.

Prices are lower this year to incentivize more industry folks to join us in the room. We’ve also adjusted the length for each day so format folks can get in and out without missing most of the work week. We run this event to help the industry and we fund it ourselves. It only works though if industry people attend and media groups continue to support it. To learn which sponsorship opportunities remain available, email Stephanie Eads at Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com.

If you’ve attended one of our Summits or watched any of our video clips across social media, we put on a show. There are presentations, speakers, parties, production, backstage interviews, and many top decision makers in the room. Attendees come because we prioritize content and conversations that matter. We also provide a meeting point for industry friends to reunite and discuss future business. But as fun as networking is, we understand that time and resources are limited. The information and access has to be valuable for folks to justify attending.

If you do make time to join us, you’ll leave the room smarter, more connected, full of ideas, and armed with information to improve your brand, company or personal career. To help us do that, I’m excited to add six more talented professionals to our Music Summit on July 2nd. Each of these broadcasters has made a mark on their respective formats either on the air or behind the mic. We’re elated to have them sharing their insights and expertise with us in the big apple.

Meet The Programmers

Starting with the four programmers, it’s my pleasure to welcome Audacy’s VP of Country Tim Roberts and VP of Hot AC Steve Salhany to the Summit. Tim was recently voted the #1 Country Radio Programmer in Barrett Media’s Top 20 series. Steve came in #2 in the AC/Hot AC PD category. His morning show Karson & Kennedy landed the top spot in the AC/Hot AC category. Both have lengthy track records of success, deep knowledge and passion for our business. They will add a lot of insight and expertise to format conversations.

Next, I’m thrilled to welcome Cumulus Media’s VP of Classic Rock/Alternative James Kurdziel to the Summit. James has done a spectacular job guiding Q101 in Chicago and KQRS in Minneapolis, in addition to being a key resource to Cumulus’ rock brands. His knowledge of multiple formats and experience working with top talent will add another strong voice in the room.

We complete our programmer’s announcement with another big addition to the lineup. I’m pleased to have Hot 107.9 in Atlanta’s brand leader and the PD of Reach Media’s ‘The Morning Hustle’ Devin Steel joining us. The rap radio legend built his name in Memphis before heading to Atlanta to put his prints on the local Urban radio scene. Devin’s passion and format knowledge combined with his candor and love of the music and radio industry will help make format professionals sharper.

Meet the Talent

Featuring strong talent is a big part of our Summit’s too, and we’re thrilled to have Murphy, Sam and Jodi joining us. This trio not only has exceptional chemistry, they have a deep understanding of what’s required to build a business. They’ve self-syndicated their show, earning trust across multiple formats, and know that it takes more than just strong content to keep a business healthy.

Murphy, Sam and Jodi are going to host an awesome session titled ‘Act Like a Talent, Think Like an Owner‘. They will cover their approach to content, growing ratings and revenue, working with affiliates, and maintaining partnerships, while simultaneously managing daily workflow and staying connected to their audience. Attendees are going to enjoy what they bring to the stage.

Barter Opportunity

If you want to attend the show and hang on to your cash, there will be another option. Thanks to our friends at IMAR Entertainment, barter opportunities to attend the Summit are available. Click HERE or the banner below for details.

Still to Come

The next few months I will tirelessly work to assemble a star studded lineup featuring the best across music radio. I’m looking to add the industry’s best programmers, sharpest executives, and top talent on stage, and bring professionals from sales, management, programming, production, digital, advertising, voiceover, record labels and management companies into the room. People gain skills and education, and brands get stronger when access to knowledge, ideas and relationships are available. We will do our part to make sure the event is worthy of your time.

If you’ve reached out to express interest in speaking, I’m aware and I do appreciate the interest. I am not ruling out including you in the show nor am I trying to be rude by being non-committal. My immediate focus is on building sessions that focus on specific topics with certain people. Once I finalize those plans and have an idea of additional possibilities, I’ll reach out if there’s a fit. As we secure additional speakers, updates will be provided here on the website and inside our newsletters.

Content concentration on issues that matter to Rock, Country, Urban, CHR, and AC/Hot AC professionals is our top priority. We’ll also feature insights from some of the industry’s best talent, sharpest executives, and research/data to help brand leaders and performers maximize impact. In addition, a post-show after party will cap off what should be an exceptional conference.

This is going to be a fast-paced, action-packed, educational show. It’s our first venture into the music radio arena and we want to make it count. If we can deliver for Music what we have for Sports and News, we will do more of these shows. It simply comes down to making sure the first one hits all the right notes.

I hope you’ll make time to be there or support the show as a partner. Once again, tickets are available here or by clicking the banner above. I’ll see you in the big apple on July 2, 2026.

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.

CNN’s Abby Phillip Apologizes For ‘Inaccurate’ Comments About Attackers in New York

BNM Staff
-
0
CNN’s Abby Phillip Apologizes For ‘Inaccurate’ Comments About Attackers in New York

CNN primetime host Abby Phillip has apologized for what she described as “inaccurate” comments on her program on Tuesday evening.

During CNN NewsNight, Phillip said that an incident in front of Gracie Mansion was “an attempted terror attack against New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani.”

However, Mamdani was not the intended target of the attacks. Protesters outside the mayoral mansion were there to protest Mamdani. Counter protesters then clashed with the group, where the two figures arrested lobbed improvised explosive devices at the crowd.

Following her comments on Tuesday’s show, Abby Phillip took to social media to correct herself and apologize for the error.

“I want to correct something I said last night,” said Phillip. “The bombs thrown in New York City over the weekend by ISIS inspired attackers was thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protestors and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. That wording was inaccurate and I didn’t catch it ahead of time. I apologize for the error.”

The apology from Abby Phillip came after CNN took heavy criticism for a social media post about the situation, which said that “Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather.” CNN later deleted the tweet and admitted it fell short of its editorial standards.

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.

NFL Reportedly Considering Thanksgiving Eve Game as Soon as This Coming Season

BSM Staff
-
0
NFL Reportedly Considering Thanksgiving Eve Game as Soon as This Coming Season

The National Football League (NFL) continues to evaluate new ways to expand its calendar, and one of the league’s latest ideas could place professional football on television the night before Thanksgiving.

According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, league officials have discussed the possibility of adding a Wednesday game on Thanksgiving Eve beginning with the 2026 season.

If implemented, the additional contest would take place on November 25, 2026, and would represent another step in the NFL’s broader effort to stretch its schedule across more days of the week and capitalize on television demand for live sports programming.

For decades, Thanksgiving has served as one of the league’s most reliable ratings engines, with games traditionally airing across FOX Sports, CBS, and NBC. Yet in recent years, the league has become increasingly aggressive about surrounding the holiday with additional inventory that networks and streaming platforms eagerly pursue because of the massive audiences NFL games consistently generate.

The league already introduced a Black Friday matchup beginning with the 2023 season, a game currently carried by Amazon’s Prime Video platform. Meanwhile, commissioner Roger Goodell previously indicated that the league has explored expanding its Black Friday presence beyond a single game as media companies continue to prioritize live sports during holiday viewing windows.

Christmas has also become a growing focus for the NFL’s schedule makers. When December 25 fell on a Wednesday in 2024, the league staged a pair of Christmas Day contests. Last season, the NFL delivered an even larger holiday showcase, scheduling three games when Christmas landed on a Thursday.

Those broadcasts became part of a lucrative agreement with Netflix, which reportedly pays the league roughly $75 million per game for its Christmas Day doubleheader package.

Because the NFL remains the most powerful programming asset on television, even a single additional game can create substantial financial opportunity. Media partners frequently compete for the rights to exclusive NFL windows, and the introduction of a Wednesday night game before Thanksgiving could attract a streaming platform eager to secure a major holiday property.

YouTube could also be a potential landing spot for new NFL inventory. The platform currently holds the league’s NFL Sunday Ticket package and streamed its first exclusive live NFL game last season when the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Los Angeles Chargers in a game played in Brazil.

If the league ultimately places a game on Thanksgiving Eve, the move would create an extended stretch of football programming surrounding the holiday. A Wednesday night kickoff would launch a nine-day run that could include NFL games on seven different days, an arrangement that further strengthens the league’s dominance across both traditional television and digital streaming platforms.

The scheduling concept also arrives while the NFL continues discussions surrounding its massive media rights agreements. The league signed 11-year contracts valued at more than $110 billion with partners including CBS, NBC, FOX Sports, ESPN and Prime Video. Although those deals began only a few seasons ago, the league holds opt-out clauses later in the decade, a negotiating tool that could help drive even larger rights payments as demand for NFL content continues to climb.

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.

Dan Bernstein: John Smoltz on FOX Sports “Does Not Like Baseball”

BSM Staff
-
0
Dan Bernstein: John Smoltz on FOX Sports “Does Not Like Baseball”

Dan Bernstein did not hold back in his latest criticism of FOX Sports MLB analyst John Smoltz, sharply questioning his approach to calling games during coverage connected to the World Baseball Classic.

During a recent episode of his podcast Dan Bernstein Unfiltered, Bernstein delivered a lengthy critique of Smoltz’s performance in the broadcast booth, arguing that the Hall of Fame pitcher often sounds dismissive of the modern version of the sport and rarely contributes meaningful insight to viewers watching the game unfold.

Bernstein said that if he were responsible for the broadcast audio mix, he would simply mute Smoltz entirely because he believes the analyst’s tone conveys disdain for the current state of baseball rather than enthusiasm for the game.

“I would turn him off completely,” Bernstein said on the podcast. “He does not like baseball, and it is apparently his mission to make you the viewer not like baseball and not appreciate anything. Just somehow finds everything distasteful or against the better nature of the game”

Bernstein continued by suggesting that Smoltz frequently frames his commentary through the lens of how the game looked during his own playing career, which spanned more than two decades and included multiple postseason runs with the Atlanta Braves. While acknowledging Smoltz’s reputation as one of the most accomplished pitchers of his generation, Bernstein argued that the analyst too often uses that perspective to criticize the modern style of play.

“He has a problem with everything,” Bernstein said. “I cannot stand him. Everything has some kind of subtext against the modern game. Every criticism has to do with what he doesn’t like about how people play baseball now, because things were better when he played. Get off my television.”

Smoltz, who joined FOX Sports as its lead MLB analyst in 2014, has long served as a prominent voice on the network’s national broadcasts, including postseason games and other major events tied to the sport. The eight-time All-Star pitcher also has worked high-profile assignments such as the World Series and international baseball competitions, giving him a significant platform to analyze the evolving game.

However, Bernstein argued that the problem goes beyond tone or generational disagreement, insisting that Smoltz’s commentary often fails to provide clarity for viewers attempting to understand what is happening on the field.

“I’m not just talking about his style,” Bernstein said. “He starts talking, and he ends up saying nothing. Everything is this grandiose pronouncement from the mount, and he’s stating these baseball biblical truths that make absolutely no sense whatsoever.”

Bernstein added that when listeners examine Smoltz’s commentary closely, the statements rarely build toward a clear or useful point about strategy or gameplay.

“If you actually were to parse out what he’s saying and read the stuff that he says as he says it, it doesn’t go anywhere,” Bernstein said.

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.

Alt 98.7 Detroit Tabs Amanda Habrowski for Mornings Beginning March 12

BMM Staff
-
0
Alt 98.7 Detroit Tabs Amanda Habrowski for Mornings Beginning March 12

Audacy has added a familiar voice to mornings in Detroit, naming Amanda Habrowski as the new host of the weekday morning show on ALT 98.7 (WDZH-FM), where she will lead a program designed to strengthen the station’s connection with the city’s alternative rock audience.

Beginning Thursday, Habrowski will host Amanda in the AM, airing weekdays from 6–10 a.m. ET on the Detroit-based station. The move places the longtime broadcaster at the front of ALT 98.7’s weekday lineup as the station continues refining its programming strategy and leaning into a more locally connected sound for listeners in the Motor City.

Station leadership believes the hire reflects a broader push to amplify Detroit’s alternative rock culture while pairing the music with a personality who understands the local audience.

“This next chapter for ALT 98.7, Detroit’s Alternative Rock, is about amplifying the music that defines the city’s alternative scene,” said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Audacy Detroit. “Bringing Amanda back to Detroit isn’t just a talent addition; it’s a statement. Her edge, authenticity and deep connection to the city make her the perfect voice for the station. As we continue to grow ALT 98.7, we’re doubling down on bold programming, fresh energy and a local presence that reflects the sound and spirit of Detroit.”

Habrowski’s return to Detroit represents a homecoming after a career that has taken her through multiple radio markets across the country. Over more than two decades in the industry, she has built a résumé that includes roles as an on-air personality, voice actor and digital content creator.

Her journey also included a stint on television, where she appeared on VH1’s reality series Flavor of Love 3 in 2008. During the show, host Flava Flav gave her the nickname “ICE,” a moment that helped increase her public profile and introduced her to a wider audience beyond radio.

Despite the national exposure, Habrowski continued focusing primarily on broadcasting, working in several markets while developing her on-air style and expanding her experience in programming and content creation. Most recently, she served in Las Vegas as the content director and afternoon host for 93.1 The Mountain, where she helped guide the station’s programming strategy while maintaining a daily presence on the air.

Now, she returns to Detroit to lead mornings on ALT 98.7, a role she described as both personal and professionally meaningful.

“I left Detroit to chase a dream, and now I get to come home and live it,” Habrowski said. “I’m beyond grateful for everyone who helped shape my path along the way. To still be here after 20 years of learning, evolving and pushing through is something I’m really proud of. I’ve been building this whole time, and I’m excited to keep growing, give back and have some fun with it.”

Alongside Habrowski’s new morning show, ALT 98.7’s weekday lineup will continue with Ian Camfield hosting middays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, followed by Dallas Osborn in afternoons from 3–7 p.m. ET.

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.

The Volume Adds New Podcast Featuring Leonard Fournette, Jarvis Landry

BSM Staff
-
0
The Volume Adds New Podcast Featuring Leonard Fournette, Jarvis Landry

Former NFL running back Leonard Fournette and wide receiver Jarvis Landry are bringing their longtime friendship and shared football experiences to the podcast space via The Volume. The former LSU Tigers football teammates announced a new show called 4th and South, which debuts today.

The program will feature the two former NFL standouts discussing their football journeys while also expanding the conversation beyond the field into the realities of life after the game. According to a release, the podcast aims to provide an authentic perspective on professional football, blending personal stories with broader discussions about culture, business, and personal growth.

Landry explained that the idea behind the podcast grew out of conversations the two frequently had about their careers and the many experiences that shaped them along the way.

“We lived so much of this game side by side,” Landry said. “From LSU to the NFL, there were moments that taught us a lot about the game and about ourselves. This podcast gives us the chance to sit down, talk honestly about that journey. Plus open a window into what life inside football really looks like.”

Landry and Fournette built their connection long before their professional careers began. They starred together at LSU before entering the NFL as high-profile prospects. Their new show with The Volume leans heavily on that shared history. Both players emphasize offering fans perspectives rarely heard outside locker rooms and team facilities.

“4th and South gives us the chance to dive into our lives beyond football. No subject is off-limits. We plan to discuss everything from fatherhood, mental health, fashion, and music, to the trials and tribulations that have shaped us as businessmen,” said Fournette. “We’re excited to talk about it all. Partnering with The Volume is a natural fit to grow this podcast and boost our voices in sports and beyond.”

Landry entered the league in 2014 and developed a reputation as one of the most dependable receivers of his era. During his career, he played for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints. He earned three Pro Bowl selections. He also led the NFL in receptions during the 2017 season.

Fournette followed a different path but enjoyed notable success of his own. The former first-round pick spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Buffalo Bills. His most memorable moment came during the Buccaneers’ championship run, when he helped the franchise capture the title in Super Bowl LV.

The addition of 4th and South continues to expand The Volume’s growing slate of athlete-driven programming. The network’s lineup already includes the NBA-focused podcast Club 520 along with Show Me Something, hosted by Sophie Cunningham and West Wilson.

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.

84% of Americans Listen to AM/FM Radio Weekly, New FMR/Eastlan Data Shows

BNM Staff
-
0
84% of Americans Listen to AM/FM Radio Weekly, New FMR/Eastlan Data Shows

AM/FM Radio has long been the king of the audio space. That continues in 2026, according to new data from FMR and Eastlan.

In a new National Radio Listening Survey, it was revealed that 84% of adults aged 25-64 listen to radio weekly. That figure has remained steady in recent years, with the figure falling from 86% in 2024 to 85% in 2025.

The data remains the same when split between those living in the top 30 markets and those in markets 31 and up. Both demographics responded at an 84% weekly usage.

The two widest gaps in listening between those two categories came in podcast and satellite radio usage. 42% of those living in markets 1-30 responded that they are weekly podcast listeners. Those in markets 31 and up responded similarly at 37%.

Meanwhile, in the smaller markets, listening to SiriusXM was slightly larger at 18% compared to 14% in markets 1-30.

Of the 84% listening to AM/FM radio weekly, two-thirds said they did it with a terrestrial radio signal. 16% said they listened to an AM/FM station’s stream, while 11% said their primary point of listening to those brands was via a mobile app.

FMR and Eastlan also asked respondents which video platform they use most often for podcast listening. 72% said YouTube, which dwarfed Instagram and TikTok, which each received 10%. It marked the first time that question was asked in the survey.

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.

UFC Simulcast on CBS Sports Draws Best Linear Audience for Promotion in a Decade

BSM Staff
-
0
UFC Simulcast on CBS Sports Draws Best Linear Audience for Promotion in a Decade

CBS delivered a major boost to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) television reach over the weekend, helping the promotion secure its strongest linear television audience in a decade.

According to reporting by The Sports Business Journal, the broadcast network simulcast portions of UFC 326 on Saturday night, introducing the promotion to CBS viewers for the first time while partnering with Paramount+ for the complete event.

The arrangement resulted in more than 2.47 million viewers watching the fights on CBS, marking the largest audience the UFC has generated on traditional television in the last 10 years.

CBS carried select bouts from both the preliminary card and the main event portion of the pay-per-view broadcast during a two-hour window from 8–10 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Paramount+ streamed the entire event live.

Viewership numbers for the streaming platform have not been released.

The UFC’s performance also provided a notable ratings lift for CBS in a time slot that has produced modest results throughout the television season. The network’s Saturday night broadcast delivered an audience roughly 30% higher than the average CBS has drawn in that same 8–10 p.m. window since the fall.

Younger viewers also showed strong interest in the event. The broadcast improved CBS’ typical Saturday prime-time performance by 208% among adults ages 18–34 while delivering a 190% increase among adults 18–49 compared to the network’s usual programming in that slot.

Last year, UFC programming airing across ESPN’s family of networks averaged approximately 661,000 viewers on linear television. The CBS audience therefore represented a roughly 284% increase compared to that season average.

The strongest viewership came during the later portion of the simulcast. From 9–10 p.m. ET, when CBS aired part of the main card, the network averaged 2.81 million viewers. The broadcast ultimately reached a peak audience of 3.21 million viewers during the telecast.

UFC and Paramount signed an exclusive seven-year agreement to carry UFC’s full slate of events — ending the mixed martial arts organization’s long-standing Pay-Per-View model in the United States.

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.

Matt Vasgersian Reportedly Tabbed as NBC and Netflix Opening Day Play by Play

BSM Staff
-
0
Matt Vasgersian Reportedly Tabbed as NBC and Netflix Opening Day Play by Play

Veteran broadcaster Matt Vasgersian will occupy a prominent role during the opening stretch of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. This includes taking part in multiple high-profile national broadcasts across multiple platforms as networks and streaming services continue to reshape how fans consume the sport’s biggest moments.

According to a report by The Athletic, NBC selected Vasgersian to handle play-by-play duties for its Opening Day telecast when the New York Mets visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26. Also according to several reports, Vasgersian will also likely serve as the lead MLB play-by-play voice for Netflix’ Opening Day broadcast as the global streaming platform begins it’s three-year media rights deal with MLB.

NBC previously announced that Jason Benetti will call the network’s Sunday Night Baseball games, marking another major national assignment for the longtime television voice. According to the network, NBC plans to pair its play-by-play announcers with analysts drawn from local broadcasts tied to the teams participating in each game, a strategy intended to provide more team-specific insight while still delivering a national presentation.

The Opening Day assignment positions Vasgersian as a central figure in NBCUniversal’s broader baseball strategy, which will feature an expanded schedule of streaming-exclusive games during the 2026 season.

“I think I still have a cap from my first NBC play-by-play assignment, the 2000 Gator Bowl,” Vasgersian said. “Here we are 26 years later and coming back on NBC and Peacock to be a part of coverage of the sport I love and have invested my career in is incredibly gratifying.”

Beginning in May, he is slated to serve as the lead play-by-play voice for Peacock’s MLB Sunday Leadoff, a package of Sunday morning contests designed to give the streaming service a consistent early window before other national broadcasts begin later in the day.

“Matt has been on the NBC Sports team throughout the years, including calling MLB games and baseball in the Olympics, and we welcome him home,” said Sam Flood, NBC Sports Executive Producer. “With extensive experience on national and local broadcasts, Matt is an ideal fit to be one of our play-by-play voices for MLB Sunday Leadoff, leading a national presentation alongside analysts with connections to each competing team.”

Despite the expanded national schedule, Vasgersian will continue his longstanding relationship with MLB Network, where he has remained a fixture since the channel launched in 2009.

Over the course of his broadcasting career, Vasgersian has called a wide range of major sporting events, including college football assignments for NBC that date back to the early 2000s, a stint as the lead voice of Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN alongside Alex Rodriguez, and numerous MLB telecasts for both FOX Sports and regional broadcasts involving the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels.

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.

What Message is News/Talk Radio Sending to Advertisers and the Community With Subpar Websites?

Garrett Searight
-
1
What Message is News/Talk Radio Sending to Advertisers and the Community With Subpar Websites?

News/Talk Radio has spent years making the case that it’s the most trusted format in all of media. Hosts build loyal audiences by promising accuracy. News anchors stake their credibility on getting the facts right. It’s the foundation the format is built on.

So why are so many news/talk stations broadcasting a very different message the moment someone visits their website?

This past week, I came across a Cumulus news/talk station whose website still listed Imus in the Morning as its featured morning show. Don Imus has been dead for six years. That’s six years of a dead man’s name sitting on a live station’s homepage. Jim Bohannon was listed as an overnight host. He died more than three years ago! It listed Clark Howard as its afternoon host. Clark retired five years ago!

I also found a Salem Media station still promoting America at Night with Rich Valdes — a radio show that’s been off the air for four months. These aren’t ancient archives buried three clicks deep. They’re front-facing pages that represent the brand to every potential listener and advertiser who visits.

It’s easy to dismiss this as a minor housekeeping issue. I’d push back hard on that.

Think about what these stations are asking advertisers to believe. They’re asking businesses to trust them with their brand, their message, and their money — and then they can’t keep their own programming grid current. If a station can’t manage the basic task of updating a show listing, why would an advertiser feel confident that their spot will air correctly, their copy will be handled with care, or their campaign details will be executed properly? The argument sells itself, and not in a good way.

The listener side of this equation is just as damaging. News/talk’s entire value proposition rests on credibility. When a local listener stumbles onto a website promoting a show that no longer exists — or worse, a host who’s no longer alive — what conclusion do they draw? They’re not thinking “web team oversight.” They’re thinking this station doesn’t pay attention. And if it doesn’t pay attention to its own details, why should they trust its reporters, its anchors, or its hosts to get their news right?

That’s a brutal message to send, and it’s entirely self-inflicted.

The problem doesn’t stop at outdated show listings, either. Some stations still don’t offer their podcasts or on-demand audio on their own websites. Others have the infrastructure in place but don’t maintain it. One brand that performed extremely well in our recent Top 20 of news/talk radio series — a station that by every competitive measure should be proud of its product — hasn’t posted on-demand audio for its afternoon show in over four months. Four months. That’s not a glitch. That’s a choice, even if it wasn’t an intentional one.

Here’s the thing about passive neglect — it sends a message just as clearly as active decisions do. A stale website tells the audience that digital presence is an afterthought. It signals to advertisers that the attention to detail stops at the studio door.

News/talk can’t afford that signal right now. The format is competing for ears against podcasts, streaming audio, and an endless supply of on-demand content that is always current, always available, and never lists a deceased host. The bar for digital execution isn’t impossibly high. It’s just consistency. Update your show pages. Post your audio. Make sure what’s on your website reflects what’s actually on your air.

Advertisers are always looking for a reason to say no. Listeners are always looking for a reason to tune out of a radio station. A neglected website hands them both reasons before a single word of content is ever consumed. That’s a problem entirely within a station’s control to fix — and there’s no good excuse for leaving it broken.

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...184185186...2,650Page 185 of 2,650