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Inside the Cumulus-Nielsen Oral Arguments at the U.S. Appeals Court

Dr. Ed Cohen
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Inside the Cumulus-Nielsen Oral Arguments at the U.S. Appeals Court

It’s the gift that keeps on giving for this column. Cumulus sues Nielsen on antitrust grounds over Nielsen’s Network Policy. Nielsen countersues. Cumulus wins an injunction against Nielsen in the Southern District of New York federal court.

Nielsen appeals to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals and gets a temporary stay against the injunction. Then, to make things more interesting, Cumulus files for bankruptcy (again) and partially blames it on Nielsen. Sounds like a legal drama on HBO!

On May 7, the two sides went before a panel of judges at the appeals court in New York to argue the merits of their sides. Nielsen wants a permanent end to the injunction, while Cumulus wants the court to uphold it. Cumulus’ access to Nationwide ends when the next data set is released sometime around Labor Day, so time is of the essence.

Here’s the best part: you can listen to it! To paraphrase the old 1010 WINS slogan, “Give us 41 minutes and we’ll give you lawyers arguing for Nielsen and Cumulus!” Not as catchy as “Give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world,” but you get the point.

Pre-Game Analysis: What Each Side Is Arguing

The production quality isn’t stellar, and the arguments are esoteric when the attorneys offer their interpretations of Supreme Court and lower court decisions in relevant cases. However, I was impressed with the judges’ questions. Considering most of us in the radio business have no idea how Nielsen structures their policies and their deals, the judges made some good queries.

These days, the biggest ratings come from sports, so let’s use a sports-based angle starting with the pre-game analysis. On May 5, Attorney Katie Wellington of Hogan Lovells filed a letter with the court on behalf of Cumulus. A couple of points stood out.

The letter stated, “The radio broadcast industry is in freefall…” — and I’m certain that line was not run past Mike Hulvey at the RAB ahead of time. One reason given for the “freefall” was that due to Nielsen’s high prices, it left “broadcast companies with less money to spend on content creation that benefits listeners.”

The letter noted steps Cumulus took prior to filing their most recent bankruptcy. Cumulus took “extensive measures to address costs, including selling non-core assets, renegotiating vendor agreements, and curtailing non-essential capital expenditures.” And some good people were let go as well, but somehow, that didn’t end up in the letter.

Further, post-bankruptcy, Cumulus still expects to lose money in 2027 ($15.7 million) but should eke out a profit of $14.4 million in 2028.

For Team Nielsen, Tom Dupree from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher filed his letter on May 5, saying Cumulus has not suffered irreparable harm and the injunction should be vacated. If Cumulus wants to sue on antitrust grounds and wins, Cumulus can collect damages from Nielsen.

The Oral Arguments: Nielsen Makes Its Case

Dupree opened on behalf of Nielsen, arguing that the court should “vacate the injunction” of the lower court. He gave three reasons:

  • The theory of “constructive tying” that the lower court used was flawed
  • Cumulus didn’t prove “irreparable harm”
  • The injunction “fails the specificity argument of Rule 65”

And no, you aren’t the only one who thinks Rule 65 may have been a band from long ago. We have UB40, Blink-182, Haircut 100, and of course, U2 — so why not Rule 65?

Without getting into the minutiae of case precedents — along with my usual warning that I’m not an attorney — during questioning, Dupree made a point that the Supreme Court has said “that sellers are free to charge whatever price they want absent conditioning or predatory pricing.” Later, Dupree made the case that the post-bankruptcy Cumulus, “like a butterfly emerging from the cocoon,” will be a profitable company “able to pay the price.”

Wellington’s arguments to the court centered around the exorbitantly high price Nielsen wants for a standalone version of Nationwide — specifically ten times what Cumulus currently pays. While Nielsen argued that Cumulus has not negotiated further since that offer was put on the table (after several back-and-forth offers), Cumulus evidently felt the price was so out of line that the only recourse was the legal system.

The Monopoly Question and What Comes Next

Dupree had an opportunity to counter Wellington’s argument. He said that Nielsen is not a monopolist with respect to Nationwide. Even though it’s the only supplier of national radio data. The reasoning was that in lower court testimony, Mike Gould of Eastlan said they could have a national product available in a year. For $5 million. That led Dupree to state, “There is no barrier to entry,” one of the tests of monopolistic power. What was not said was whether agencies that buy network radio would accept a challenger to Nielsen’s Nationwide.

As someone who worked for a ratings company that went under (Birch/Scarborough in 1991), it’s my view that the marketplace has room for 1½ suppliers. Agencies want one source of data for any medium to eliminate confusion and get on with their primary work. One supplier can make a lot of money while the number two company struggles and eventually gives up. Another example was the demise of Arbitron television in the early ’90s. If Cumulus shut out Nielsen and brought in Eastlan for all their markets — including national data — there is no guarantee that buyers would accept or use it. Meanwhile, my assumption is that a large part of Westwood One’s lineup would not appear in Nationwide. That would be a serious issue.

What’s next? The Court of Appeals should decide soon, and you’ll see it in Barrett Media as well as the other trades. But if you have a spare 41 minutes, listen for yourself at https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/26-88.mp3

To paraphrase another slogan, “They argue, you decide.”

Let’s meet again next week.

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.

New Rolling Stones Music and Classic Rock’s Missed Opportunity

Mike Stern
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New Rolling Stones Music and Classic Rock’s Missed Opportunity

Last week I managed to shoehorn Shakespeare into a column about the value of using the words Classic Rock as a positioner. The question I posed was, other than saying those two words repeatedly, what are you doing to earn that position in the listener’s mind?

This week, I’m turning to 18th century Irish philosopher George Berkeley, who is credited with originating the thought experiment: if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? I want to amend that question. If the Stones roll out new music and no one gets to hear it, does it make a sound?

In both cases, the answer is yes. I won’t delve into the science, but when the proverbial tree falls, based on what we know about vibrations, it absolutely makes a sound. When the Rolling Stones release a new song, a simple web search yields hundreds of articles covering the event. It absolutely makes a sound. Unfortunately, I don’t think that sound was on a lot of Classic Rock stations.

The Stones released two songs in the last few weeks. The first came out under the pseudonym The Cockroaches called “Rough and Twisted.” Then on May 5th “In the Stars,” came out along with the announcement of a new album called Foreign Tongues due July 10th.

Let’s put this in perspective. Despite leaning more on music from the eighties and incorporating bands from the nineties, the Rolling Stones are still among the top ten most-played acts in the Classic Rock format. That means they are still highly relevant to your audience.

This Isn’t Just Any Band

And while not all new releases from Classic Rock artists are noteworthy, even from the highly relevant ones, this is the Rolling Stones. Unlike other bands where the average listener can’t name a single member, or where the original members have retired or passed away, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are household names. Somehow, they are still making music.

But from what I can tell, Classic Rock radio’s response to these releases was the equivalent of a big yawn. I’m willing to guess a good number of Classic Rock stations didn’t play these songs at all, and many others gave them only a single spin. I’m sure a lot of hosts talked about the new songs as they went into a Classic from the band. That feels counterproductive, considering it’s likely to send any listener who wants to hear them running to their favorite streaming service.

Finding the Space Between Ignored and Overplayed

By no means am I advocating for massive rotations or trying to make a case that these songs have a future in the station’s library. I am challenging stations to consider how to use this type of opportunity to further own the position of the Classic Rock station. There must be a comfortable space between one spin or less and heavy rotation. That space will strengthen the station’s image in the consumer’s mind. Otherwise, we’re leaving that distinction to YouTube and Spotify.

And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that between having your hosts tease ahead and creative use of simple production pieces, you can make a few spins sound like you are playing these new Rolling Stones songs all the time. There will be little disruption to your precious, carefully plotted power rotation.

The Album Drop and the Holiday Setup

All right, now I’ll climb down off my soapbox but not without implanting one final thought. The new Stones album drops Friday, July 10th. You will likely be coming off a July 4th holiday weekend where you celebrated the country’s 250th birthday with programming focused on American artists – at least I hope you are.

That makes the following weekend a great opportunity to turn around and celebrate one of the greatest Classic Rock bands that happens to not be from the United States. I’m thinking minimal spins for songs off the new album and maximum spins for the rest of the Stones catalog. If you don’t like that idea, at least plan something for the release. Don’t let another stone roll in the woods without your station.

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 World Cup Is a Marketing Goldmine Sports Radio Cannot Ignore

John Mamola
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The World Cup Is a Marketing Goldmine Sports Radio Cannot Ignore

The World Cup is too big to ignore. Whether soccer is a primary passion point for your local audience or barely registers outside of major international moments. The tournament creates something sports radio brands spend years chasing: shared attention.

For a little over a month, sports fans, casual viewers, advertisers, social media users, and even people who rarely watch sports will all be discussing the same event at the same time. That matters.

When the FIFA World Cup arrives in North America next month, the sports conversation will shift. Bars will host watch parties. Retail stores will sell merchandise. Social feeds will become flooded with highlights, flags, reactions, memes, and debate. Even people who haven’t watched a soccer match since the last World Cup will suddenly know when the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is playing.

Sports radio brands should recognize what that means.

Last week, FOX Sports and iHeartMedia announced a partnership that will make every FIFA World Cup 2026 match available on iHeartRadio. More than 100 stations, including FOX Sports Radio affiliates, are expected to carry every United States match along with the World Cup Final. That announcement immediately created a new conversation inside iHeart programming departments across the country.

Should local stations lean into the World Cup and carry the games?

Timing = Opportunity

For some programmers, the answer comes naturally. Markets with strong soccer communities or diverse international populations may see obvious upside. Others may question whether the event truly fits their audience. If your listeners primarily care about football, baseball, or local college athletics, how much energy should be invested into a global soccer tournament?

The answer probably depends on your market. But the larger takeaway shouldn’t.

Whether or not the World Cup is a perfect format fit for your station, there’s value in finding a way to own part of the moment. The timing alone creates opportunity.

The tournament lands during one of the quieter stretches of the sports calendar. By mid-June, the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Playoffs will be over. The NFL remains weeks away from training camp. Major League Baseball carries the daily load, but outside of a handful of markets, there’s room for additional programming opportunities.

That opens doors for stations looking to create unique experiences.

If your iHeart station doesn’t hold rights to major local teams, carrying World Cup matches may become attractive filler with legitimate audience interest attached to it. Several United States pool matches fall into favorable programming windows, including late evening opportunities and a Friday afternoon showcase. Those aren’t insignificant details.

A Friday afternoon United States match creates more than programming inventory. It creates promotional inventory. Watch parties at local bars, sponsorship integrations, branded giveaways, live broadcasts, and social engagement campaigns suddenly become easier to execute because the audience already has emotional investment in the event.

Branding Exclusivity

National pride still works, especially in sports radio.

Whenever Team USA competes on the global stage, people rally around it. They may not know every player on the roster or fully understand the nuances of the sport, but they understand the stakes. The United States versus the world remains a compelling hook.

That’s where stations can benefit even if they don’t expect massive ratings spikes.

Realistically, no programmer should expect World Cup broadcasts to suddenly double cume numbers. But that doesn’t mean the event lacks value. Sometimes the greatest benefit isn’t immediate ratings growth. It’s brand positioning. Being associated with major moments matters.

When listeners search for coverage of the biggest sporting event happening on the planet, does your station feel connected to that conversation or absent from it? That distinction shapes perception. Even casual participation can reinforce the idea that your brand is plugged into the larger sports world.

That participation doesn’t necessarily require wall-to-wall soccer talk either.

The stations that execute best will likely be the ones that understand how to complement the event instead of forcing themselves to become something they’re not. Your hosts don’t need to suddenly transform into tactical soccer analysts or a reincarnated Pelé himself. But acknowledging the tournament, discussing major storylines, reacting to dramatic moments, and creating audience interaction around the event all help keep your brand culturally relevant during the tournament window.

Digital Moment

The real opportunity may exist even more on digital and social platforms.

The World Cup is built for social engagement. Goals become instant viral clips. Upsets dominate trending topics. Fans share reactions in real time. Stations that prepare creative assets, branded graphics, scoring alerts, memes, and audience engagement strategies ahead of time position themselves to benefit from that activity.

Does your station have goal graphics ready to publish seconds after the United States scores? Are your personalities contributing reactions during matches? How about creating content people can repost and attach themselves to? Are advertisers integrated into the experience?

That preparation separates stations that simply acknowledge the World Cup from stations that actually capitalize on it. Even for stations without broadcast rights, there are still countless ways to participate. Watch parties, podcasts, social-first content, short-form video, listener interaction, sponsorship campaigns, and live reaction segments all provide avenues to connect with audiences during the tournament.

That’s ultimately the bigger point.

You don’t have to become a soccer station to benefit from the World Cup. You also don’t have to be an iHeart sports station with rights opportunities to stand out. But when an event captures worldwide attention for over a month, there’s value in making sure your brand has some connection to the experience.

The stations that succeed won’t necessarily be the ones with the deepest soccer knowledge. They’ll be the ones that recognize the scale of the moment and strategically find a way to insert themselves into it. The World Cup only comes around every four years.

Completely ignoring it may end up saying more to audiences than participating ever would.

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.

Jared James Nichols: Rock’s Next Great Guitar Hero

Terrie Carr
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Jared James Nichols: Rock’s Next Great Guitar Hero

Where Are Rock’s New Guitar Heroes? Meet Shredder Jared James Nichols — Guitar. It drives the rock and roll bus. Rock and radio have always embraced shred. Eddie, Eric, Jimmy, Keith, Slash, Nancy, Satch, Lita — I could go on. It seems the guitarist as a whole doesn’t mean as much to the rock format as it used to. Or maybe that’s just something we keep telling ourselves. The classic heroes are top of mind, but the new generation of Guitar Gods? Almost non-existent when it comes to rock radio airplay. They are here, making music. Rock Radio, listen up.

I first met Jared James Nichols when I became a fan of his 2023 release and decided to bring him out to my radio station to play for the fans. A pickless Gibson hero and ambassador, whose hulking presence and power vocals take over every room he plays. Who showed up to the radio appearance? Men, women, and kids holding their guitars to get signed. In fact, one kid rode his bike to the event. Jared not only signed it, he rode it around the radio station parking lot. Jared blew through his own songs and a few covers, including Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen.” That day, I was sold. Jared is a guitar hero — the incredible talent, looks, and personality that rock stars are made of.

Why Rock Radio Needs Its Guitar Gods

You can often find him at the NAMM convention, jamming with greats like Paul Gilbert and Steve Morse. Zakk Wylde and Keith Richards are fans. Why did I decide to highlight Jared in this week’s column? Because rock and radio need our Guitar Gods. Kids are playing, guitar sales are solid, and rock fans love guitar.

Jared James Nichols releases his fourth full-length, “Louder Than Fate,” on Friday, June 5th, on Frontiers Records. I recently got some time with this mega-talented player for my Carr Stereo Podcast. We broke down tracks from the album and discussed being a Gibson Brand Ambassador — alongside Slash, Dave Mustaine, Jerry Cantrell, and Lzzy Hale — recording at the Foo Fighters’ 606 Studios, and where his brand of blues-infused hard rock and metal fits into today’s crowded and often similar-sounding landscape.

*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Terrie Carr: One of my favorite guitar players of all time. We’re coming in hot, baby, because we have a fourth studio record which is coming out on Frontiers Records on June 5th, which is called “Louder Than Fate,” and it is a tour de force. Congratulations, my friend. Wow.

Terrie Carr: I’m ready for you to bench press me anytime I see you.

Jared James Nichols: Thank you so much. Thanks for having me, Terrie. It’s always so great to see you and talk to you and hear your voice.

Jared James Nichols: Laughs.

From Wisconsin to the Viper Room

Terrie Carr: You came in as this young kind of kid, making your name and getting top of mind for guitar people. I guess it was 2010-ish, maybe?

Jared James Nichols: Yeah, I would say 2010-ish. I got on the road and I got on some tours and started to mingle a little bit like 2012, 2013. I moved to California from Wisconsin when I was 20, and that was in 2010. Then once I got there, it took a while to figure out my bearings. But yeah, I would say 2012, I started to play shows in Los Angeles. I played the Viper Room. That was my first show in LA, which was insane. Then I started to do these small runs up the coast. Then one thing led to another, and I got on my first tour, which was in 2013, and that was going out to Sturgis to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top and making a run of it. It was one of those things where it was like, “have guitar, will travel,” so I just didn’t stop.

The Pickless Wonder Becomes a Gibson Ambassador

Terrie Carr: You didn’t need your picks! (Jared plays pickless.) Just have guitar, will travel — the Pickless Wonder! And then you became a Gibson ambassador. You got on that list, which is crazy.

Jared James Nichols: That’s crazy. I am from the same town in Wisconsin that Les Paul is from, the guy that they named the guitars after. I’ve loved guitar and that’s been like my passion since I was like 14, 15. And I had this amazing interaction where I started to work with Gibson when I moved to California. And I would go and play at events for them. I got to jam with Robby Krieger of The Doors and do these really cool events. And one thing led to another. And I started getting known through the circles as a Gibson player. And yeah, I would say 2019, they offered me my first signature guitar. I’ve had three since then, another on the way. And then about two and a half years ago, they announced me as a brand ambassador alongside Slash, Dave Mustaine, Jerry Cantrell, Lzzy Hale. It’s crazy. I’m so lucky. I’m so honored and thankful. And yeah, I love Gibson more than I can ever imagine and say.

Terrie Carr: I love the production on this record so much. Talk to me about who you worked with. It’s Jay Rustin, right?

Jared James Nichols: Yeah, Jay Rustin.

Terrie Carr: He just got who you are. He got what this record needed to be. He got the sound. It’s amazing.

Recording “Louder Than Fate” at the Foo Fighters’ 606 Studio

Jared James Nichols: And what’s amazing, too, is Jay, he said, “Hey, let’s go to 606,” which is the Foo Fighters Studio. So what you’re hearing on all of those songs — the drums, the guitars, all of that — was basically tracked live and energetic at 606 in Los Angeles. So even just being there and using that gear and having that experience was something I’ll obviously never forget, but it was just like the energy was right. And it felt like we were making a record. It wasn’t like, “okay, let’s try this, let’s try this”…. It felt like the band, the trio with Jay steering the ship. We just had this great chemistry that made a record!

Chemistry indeed. “Louder Than Fate” is everything a guitar-driven rock record should be. Check out Jared and his band — a killer power trio — on tour too. Riffs drive rock. Radio, your audience will digest a fresh riff master. In fact, they are waiting for one.

For the full interview, check out this week’s Carr Stereo Podcast — Stream Carr Stereo with Jared James Nichols on Podcast Platforms

Jared James Nichols Carr Stereo Podcast Video Interview

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.

NBC Nightly News Won the China Summit Coverage — And Tom Llamas Earned It

Garrett Searight
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NBC Nightly News Won the China Summit Coverage — And Tom Llamas Earned It

Every few years, a major news event forces the big three evening newscasts to pack their bags and justify the kind of production budgets that increasingly skeptical executives eye every quarter. President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing was one of those moments. All three networks dispatched their anchors to the region — or at least tried to. When the dust settled on a week of coverage, NBC Nightly News and Tom Llamas came out on top. Here’s why.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Yes, CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil couldn’t get a Chinese visa in time and ended up broadcasting from Taipei. That story practically writes itself, and frankly, plenty of people have already written it. A CBS source even told the New York Post that the decision to put Dokoupil in Taiwan was a “cover your a–” move.

Then, to add insult to injury, a cameraman suffered a medical emergency on air during Dokoupil’s very first broadcast from Taiwan. It’s a rough week by any measure.

But dissecting the CBS Evening News situation is almost too easy at this point. The more interesting — and more instructive — question is what separated NBC from ABC among the anchors who actually made it to Beijing.

Muir Was Good. Llamas Was Better.

Let’s be fair to David Muir and the team at World News Tonight. Muir’s broadcasts from China didn’t lack for substance. He reported from Beijing, covered the summit itself, and even came face-to-face with humanoid robots at one of China’s biggest AI developer conferences — a smart piece of enterprise television that showcased China’s technological ambitions during a week when the global tech race was very much front of mind.

There wasn’t anything wrong or bad about what ABC produced. Muir’s team did their jobs well.

But NBC Nightly News went deeper. Llamas and the Nightly team reported on China’s booming electric vehicle industry — a topic with real resonance for American viewers watching gas prices climb amid the ongoing war with Iran. Additional coverage of tariff prices on Chinese EVs coming to the forefront last week only exacerbated the topic. And Llamas’ coverage.

NBC Nightly News took viewers to the Great Wall of China. They sat down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for an interview that covered Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Taiwan, and the broader U.S.-China relationship in ways that mattered.

Rubio even told Llamas, “The difference is my job now is no longer just to be a senator. My job is a different job. I’m the chief diplomat of the country, and I execute on the president’s foreign policy.” That’s a consequential interview, and NBC landed it.

The Thursday, May 14, broadcast of NBC Nightly News marked a milestone — Llamas anchored live from the steps of the Imperial Ancestral Hall in Beijing, the first time an evening newscast had ever originated from that location. That’s the kind of visual storytelling that reminds viewers why it still matters that a network sends its anchor overseas rather than phoning it in from a studio in New York.

The Streaming Commitment Sealed It

Here’s where NBC truly separated itself — and it’s a detail that might not get the credit it deserves in the broader media conversation.

NBC announced in advance that Llamas would anchor both NBC Nightly News and Top Story from China — and he delivered on that commitment every single night.

Think about what that means logistically. Llamas was operating on Chinese time, navigating a foreign country, managing the demands of a major international news story, and coordinating production across multiple platforms. It would’ve been completely understandable — and no one would’ve batted an eye — if NBC had quietly slid another anchor into the Top Story chair for the week. The juice, you might argue, wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.

But they didn’t do that. Llamas helmed Top Story, as normal, from China. That’s a commitment to the streaming audience that a lot of networks still treat as an afterthought. It signals something about how NBC values its NBC News NOW viewers — and how seriously Llamas takes the full scope of his role. He didn’t treat Top Story like a side gig to be delegated when things got complicated. He showed up.

That’s the difference between a good week of coverage and a winning one. Muir and ABC turned in solid work. And they deserve praise, undeniably. But Llamas and NBC turned in more of it, across more platforms, with more depth — and without cutting corners on the streaming side when cutting corners would’ve been easy. That’s why NBC Nightly News won the week.

Now, we’ll patiently wait and see if the ratings reflect 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.

Jeremy Boreing Opens Up About Painful Exit From The Daily Wire

Garrett Searight
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Jeremy Boreing Opens Up About Painful Exit From The Daily Wire

Jeremy Boreing has shared a behind-the-scenes look at how difficult leaving The Daily Wire has been for him.

What We Know: Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of The Daily Wire alongside Ben Shapiro, departed his CEO role at the company last year. He recently opened up about the experience on the Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey podcast.

What They Said: “I didn’t expect to be separated from the Daily Wire. It’s not what I wanted. And it’s not something that I thought even could happen, much less would happen. It’s the biggest blow I’ve ever gone through in my life, and yeah, I was beat and broken … People would ask me what I was going to do next, and I didn’t have a great answer.

In some ways, I still don’t know what I’m going to do. But there was one day in particular where someone said, ‘What are you going to do next?’ and it struck me kind of how funny … like my wife left me for some other guy and took my house and took my kid, and I was wallowing around sad right now. No one would ask me, ‘What are you going to do next?’ as though the answer is date guys? I’m still exactly who I was before this thing occurred. You just are you. You’ve always done the things that you do … whatever it is in you that drives you has always driven you down similar paths … It was a really liberating realization that I didn’t have to solve my future or reinvent myself … I just had to remember that it’s okay to deal with setbacks in life.” –Jeremy Boreing

What Remains Unclear: Boreing hasn’t publicly detailed the circumstances behind his exit, and the reasons for his departure from The Daily Wire remain unconfirmed.

What It Means: Boreing’s admission shows he’s still processing a significant professional loss. His comments suggest someone still finding his footing, but doing so with self-awareness. We’ll continue to monitor to see if he continues to opine on his high-profile exit.

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.

Fox News Tops 191 Million Unique Visitors in April, Up 46% Year Over Year

Garrett Searight
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Fox News Tops 191 Million Unique Visitors in April, Up 46% Year Over Year

Fox News Digital has released its April 2026 metrics. It saw strong results in a variety of aspects.

What We Know: Fox News Digital finished April 2026 at the top of the Comscore rankings across total digital multiplatform unique visitors, multiplatform views, and multiplatform minutes — leading all broadcast networks and news competitors. Fox News Media also extended its social media interaction streak to 140 consecutive months at the top of all news brands, per Emplifi and Comscore Social.

What the Numbers Show:

MetricApril 2026 Total
Total Digital Multiplatform Unique Visitors191 million (up 46% YoY)
Total Multiplatform Views1.7 billion
Total Multiplatform Minutes3.6 billion

On YouTube, Fox News drew 471.9 million video views — a 45% year-over-year advantage over the field. The Fox News Mobile app also drew 6.3 million unique viewers.

FOXBusiness.com finished third in the business competitive set with 185.3 million multiplatform minutes, 87.9 million multiplatform views, and 20.2 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors.

What Remains Unclear: The April data doesn’t specify which content or coverage areas drove the most traffic. It’s also not clear how much of the unique visitor growth ties to specific news cycles versus ongoing platform investment.

What It Means: Fox News has invested heavily in being everywhere news consumers are. While the network’s cable news ratings remain strong, its digital metrics are just as impressive. The unique visitors on its mobile app are especially impressive.

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.

OutKick Posts 101% Year-Over-Year Growth in Multiplatform Minutes During April 2026

Garrett Searight
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OutKick Posts 101% Year-Over-Year Growth in Multiplatform Minutes During April 2026

OutKick has reported its April 2026 digital metrics. The outlet saw growth in several sectors.

What We Know: OutKick posted a strong April 2026, with Comscore data showing triple-digit year-over-year growth in total multiplatform minutes. The Fox-owned sports and culture platform ranked 26th among more than 350 sports entities for total digital multiplatform unique visitors. It also delivered 9.6 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors for the month.

What the Numbers Show:

MetricApril 2026 Total
Total Multiplatform Minutes48 million (up 101% YoY)
Total Multiplatform Views20 million
Total Desktop & Mobile Unique Visitors3.9 million

On social, OutKick tallied more than 459,100 social actions across Facebook, X, and Instagram. It also generated over 9.6 million total video views on Facebook, X, and YouTube — a 13% increase versus the prior month.

What They Said: “OutKick continues to grow its reach through its engaging content and authentic voices that resonate across sports, culture, and entertainment. In April alone, Tomi Lahren made headlines with interviews featuring Josh Duhamel and Cheryl Hines, while OutKick delivered leading coverage of the NFL draft’s biggest storylines.” — OutKick SVP/Managing Editor Gary Schreier

What Remains Unclear: The April data doesn’t break down which content categories or hosts drove the most traffic. It’s also not yet clear whether the 101% minute growth reflects sustained audience behavior or a bump tied to NFL draft coverage.

What It Means: The figures for OutKick come after the network inked host Dan Dakich to a contract extension.

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 Infinity Sports Network Host Zach Gelb Joining WEEI, 104.3 WQAM

Garrett Searight
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Former Infinity Sports Network Host Zach Gelb Joining WEEI, 104.3 WQAM

Zach Gelb is joining a pair of Audacy stations as a sports talk host. He’ll be part heard on WEEI and 104.3 WQAM.

What We Know: Gelb has revealed that he’s joining the airstaffs at WEEI in Boston and 104.3 WQAM in Miami. His first appearance on WEEI is scheduled for Saturday, where he’ll helm the 11 AM-2 PM timeslot. Meanwhile, he’s joining 104.3 WQAM in Miami, as well. He’ll make his first appearance on Monday, May 25th from 2-6 PM ET. Gelb hosted afternoon drive on CBS Sports Radio and Infinity Sports Network before the network transitioned to Westwood One Sports late last year.

What They Said: “I’ve joined the on air staff at WEEI. Will be doing a few shows there per month … While I have you here, I also joined the on air staff at 104.3 WQAM a little while back, too.” -Zach Gelb

What Remains Unclear: If Gelb is slated to have a regular appearance on either station’s lineup or if he’ll be working more in a fill-in capacity.

What It Means: Gelb had been hosting a show on 365 Sports since his exit from the national radio stage. He’ll bring plenty of experience to WEEI and 104.3 WQAM. He’s been heard nationally and also on WFAN and SiriusXM during his career.

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WLS-AM 890 Program Director Stephanie Tichenor Exits

Garrett Searight
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WLS-AM 890 Program Director Stephanie Tichenor Exits

WLS-AM 890 Program Director Stephanie Tichenor has exited her role at the Cumulus Chicago news/talk station. Sources at Cumulus Media confirmed the news to Barrett Media.

What We Know: Tichenor departed the station after spending the past seven years working as Program Director. She originally joined the station in 2019 after previously working as Director of News and Operations at WGN Radio.

What’s At Stake: Chicago is the third-largest radio market in the country. It’s obviously an important market to Cumulus. WLS-AM 890 is also a heritage brand in the Windy City.

What Remains Unclear: Who, if anyone, will step into the role following Stephanie Tichenor’s absence. A timetable for that replacement is also unknown.

What It Means: Tichenor oversaw WLS through a series of transitions, especially in morning drive. She helped bring Ray Stevens back to the Windy City as morning drive host. That show has since established itself as a competitor in the morning ratings. It also serves as the only local programming in the daily lineup.

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.

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