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The Timing of Media Layoffs

Jason Barrett
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The Timing of Media Layoffs

At the end of each year media companies go through evaluations that determine the path forward for the next year. If revenues aren’t as high as expected or expenses are soaring, staff reductions are considered. Most people who work in the media business know that this is an unstable industry, and we’re all one call away from being on the outside looking in. Whether we love connecting with the audience and the staff we work with or not, we’re all still part of a business. If that business isn’t profitable, things eventually change.

Having been the bearer of bad news a few times in my career, there’s no perfect way to handle it. I’ve handled it with class, and also in ways that I wish I could do over. Letting people go affects their livelihood. It sucks. However, it’s a responsibility you accept when you become a manager. If it leaves you questioning whether you want to manage or not, that’s understandable. But if you don’t deal with it someone else will. Knowing that it’s a possibility, how you handle it, and when you handle it is important.

Being familiar with the ins and outs of this business, I recognize things need to be done before year’s end. I also understand that some groups try to move things around to avoid last minute situations but sometimes they’re difficult to avoid. That said, regardless of who’s as the fault, a company and its leadership team have failed if layoffs are being delivered to employees a week before Christmas.

That happened last week when ALLCITY informed sixteen members that they were being let go. Brandon Spano, ALLCITY’s CEO has always been a straight shooter with Barrett Media, so I appreciated him being accountable, and acknowledging that the public optics for the moves don’t make the company look good. HR and legal issues put the company in position to look bad. Executives know that HR and legal folks are in place to help them prevent future messes, but if layoffs are being discussed internally, they usually don’t come up as an option a week before happening. They’re usually discussed a month or two ahead of time.

If a company wants to maintain consumer and advertiser confidence, letting 7% of the workforce go the week before the holidays sends the wrong message. Not only does it sting those being let go, but it hurts those staying too. If it can happen to them, it can happen to me is what people usually think. Morale takes a hit, all because of terrible timing. Advertisers meanwhile are given the impression that the people they do business with lack heart or are poor planners.

I’ve called out iHeartmedia many times before for situations like this. They’ve consistently handled layoffs poorly. The verbiage you use when parting ways with people speaks volumes about how you view and treat people. For instance, I disliked iHeart referring to employees as being ‘dislocated’ and Bob Pittman remarking ‘we’re not getting rid of air talent’ right after eliminating a bunch of air talent. It was tone deaf, and easily avoidable if just showing common decency while providing a reminder that a business is being run, and difficult decisions have to be made. Someone as skilled and smart as Bob Pittman shouldn’t allow that type of mistake to happen at his company.

Brandon Spano of ALLCITY said in his interview with Derek Futterman that he expects the company to invest in new markets, and the layoffs are about reallocating capital into areas that generate positive cash flow. Though that may be necessary, and a better move for the company’s long-term growth, it doesn’t excuse the timing of the layoffs. It’s also not what employees or recently laid off staffers want to hear when jobs are being eliminated. It’s OK to say ‘today is about those affected, tomorrow we’ll discuss our path forward.’

Entering 2025, questions will increase if ALLCITY endures future layoffs. With overall funding for the company above $25 million, months after a Series B funding round led by TEGNA raised $12 million, and markets according to Spano being cash-flow positive for months this year, the layoffs are the first sign of negative press for a group that has mostly received favorable attention. Just last month, ALLCITY announced a new partnership with Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel and Xfinity, and in August, the company expanded into Dallas. If things are going well as Spano says they are, laying off sixteen people a week before the holidays shouldn’t happen.

Considering that this is their first experience laying off staffers in nine years of operating, it’s understandable if they don’t have this down to an exact science. Let’s hope they never do. It’s not something a company should want to excel at. I’m hoping ALLCITY and other media operators who have to make layoffs, help themselves by avoiding unnecessary mistakes. If moves like this have to be made, address them sooner, don’t be in a rush to talk about the future when revealing that members of your team were let go, and make sure HR and legal folks have their ducks in a row well before the holidays.

Nobody being cut will like the news, but if they worked hard for you, afford them the decency of knowing before the holidays hit so they have time to heal. There’s no reason to hurt people worse who you’ve relied on to help your company or your brand’s reputation with future employees, existing employees, and potential advertisers, if you don’t have to. It simply comes down to planning, and taking action sooner rather than later. The realities of business are often unavoidable but when you choose to address it is not.

Quick Hits:

  • If what I’m hearing is accurate, changes are expected for ESPN Radio in 2025. The network had an excellent 2024, but sources I’ve spoken to have shared details that have some internally scratching their heads. Knowing how these things work, conversations are just that until plans are finalized. Let’s see how things play out before passing judgment.
  • Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy deserves credit. The hiring of Jon Gruden was not only outside the box like the Deion Sanders addition but it’s been an even bigger hit. Gruden’s videos teaching football, sharing stories, and just mixing it up with the staff have been awesome and must watch. I’ve said this many times, Portnoy’s ability to identify talent and create compelling content is as good as anyone out there. The addition of Gruden just reinforces it once again.
  • I hope ESPN’s 30 for 30 division or MLB Network’s documentary team is hard at work on a Rickey Henderson film. ‘The Man of Steal’ is a title that doesn’t require much brainstorming. I’ve long felt a highly promoted documentary on Henderson was overdue, and it makes even more sense now following his passing. Rickey was the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer of all-time, and a colorful character that captured the public’s attention. There have been a few good MLB docs in recent years (Pete Rose, Derek Jeter, Reggie Jackson) but overall it’s an area MLB can get much stronger in. Start with Rickey and then follow up by highlighting the greats of the recent past to educate the next generation of fans. It’ll bring them closer to the history of the game, one of baseball’s best qualities.
  • Some will complain about Nick Saban swearing on television. Not me. I love Nick’s candor, passion, and honesty on College Gameday, and if folks hate hearing a four letter word on sports television, they may want to avoid everything else on television besides the local channels. Saban doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and it’s made an already great program even greater.
  • The Athletic‘s piece on Lee Fitting was troubling for a few reasons. Fitting exited ESPN over a year ago, and was hired by the WWE in January 2024. He’s done great work for the company since coming on board, and ESPN has continued thriving without him. If the allegations are true, and Fitting acted improper at ESPN, it raises questions for WWE’s leadership team, and whether or not they take sexual harassment seriously, especially following the Vince McMahon mess. However, the timing of the news is also peculiar. Why is this story coming out at the end of the college football season instead of right after Fitting left?
  • The Men in Blazers are doing something really cool. They’re giving fans a chance to vote on America’s Top Ten Soccer Bars. Place your vote here. Bars have been selected from Chicago, St. Louis, St. Paul, New York, San Diego, Portland, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Doylestown, PA and Addison, TX. The bar voted #1 will earn bragging rights as the “Best Soccer Bar” in the U.S., and receive a special visit from the Men in Blazers with CEO Roger Bennett watching a game with fans.
  • If you love learning about business, you should be following Savannah Banana‘s owner Jesse Cole on LinkedIn. His advice, lessons, and views on brand building are exceptional. Watch this one, and I’m sure you’ll want to watch others.
  • Young broadcasters coming up in the business, take a minute and watch the clip below of Stephen A. Smith. Being at the top of the media industry doesn’t happen without sacrifice. Smith knows that all too well. There are many different paths to the top but the one thing the greats of this industry have in common besides talent is a relentless drive and a willingness to sacrifice to be great.

Thank You

When I heard that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre were working together on a new record, I was curious to see if they still had the magic touch. The video below confirmed they absolutely do. If you enjoy their style and songs, and haven’t heard ‘Thank You‘, search it on YouTube. It’s a banger.

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It’s the Talent, Stupid: Developing Influential Political Podcasts

Perry Michael Simon
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It’s the Talent, Stupid: Developing Influential Political Podcasts

After the election, when the pundits and consultants debated why things went the way they did, one of the more frequent arguments is that “the left needs its own Joe Rogan.” If only the Democrats had podcasting talent to appeal to the young male audience, the reasoning goes, they could have pulled some of that support and maybe won the election.

This argument misreads the room in several ways: first, there are already plenty of left-leaning podcasts out there, and if none have the same-sized audience and impact (at least until Kylie Kelce showed up), the cumulative effect is still substantial. Second, it assumes that guys who have absorbed 4Chan and incel culture would even listen, let alone politically convert. Third, and most importantly, it discounts talent, ignoring why Rogan (and Theo Von, and several others) reaches that audience: it’s Rogan himself and his interactions with guests. Guys listen to Rogan for Rogan; they like his “just asking questions” persona, the meatheaded “I don’t know anything, but that seems reasonable” approach. They’re not listening specifically for the politics, they’re listening because they like Rogan and they’re entertained. You can’t just invent a personality, add in partisan politics, and instantly be successful. It has to be organic.

There are podcast hosts across the political spectrum who have strong followings. They didn’t get there by deciding that what the country needs now is another Rogan. They got there because of the appeal of the talent as well as the content of the shows. Call Her Daddy figured in the election runup, too, as did All the Smoke and Club Shay Shay and Drink Champs and The Breakfast Club (and Charlamagne da God individually), along with several others. The election wasn’t won or lost through podcast appearances, and inventing a “Joe Rogan Experience” for the left wouldn’t have changed things.

This is nothing new. Talk radio has had this illusion forever. Howard Stern’s a hit? Hire guys who tell risque jokes and bring strippers into the studio, stat. Rush Limbaugh is dominating? Find us more angry conservative white guys to fill out the schedule. The attitude of the decision-makers has always been that the hosts are interchangeable and the content can be boiled down to simple formulas.

They can’t. The best radio and podcasts, the breakouts, are the ones where the talent – hosts and producers – are unique and entertaining, tuned into what the audience seeks while being themselves. This is a very, very hard thing to find, and while you can develop a host into a star, you need the raw material with which to work. That means recognizing a unique perspective and ability when you hear it, no matter where or how, whether it’s a small market radio host or the barista where you grab your morning sustenance or someone with whom you struck up a conversation at the supermarket.

And it means placing the proper value on that talent. Too many pundits and programmers and executives don’t want to admit that good hosts and producers deserve the credit for their success. Personalities don’t grow on trees. You can’t just invent an influential and successful show by deciding to invent an influential and successful show. If it were that easy…  but it isn’t. Start by focusing on the talent and being more patient. It’s not going to happen because you “need” it to happen.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Imagine If Radio Had a NCAA Style Transfer Portal

Ron Harrell
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Imagine If Radio Had a NCAA Style Transfer Portal

Tis the season to be right-sized, fa la la la la, la la la la! Sing along with me. But what if it were the other way around? What if radio and audio talent were making the decisions about their future? What if talent had the option to enter…wait for it…The Portal?

The NCAA college football transfer portal opened a few weeks ago. As of this writing, more than 3,300 athletes have entered their names into the database to be considered as transfers to another college football program. After you finish reading this column, you can track the portal via this link to see how the numbers have increased.

It’s Christmas week, so let’s keep the fun fantasy stories going. There’s a new presidential administration coming to town next month. Government jobs and appointments will change. One of those jobs is the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the leadership of this regulatory board is current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, replacing Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworsel.

THERE’S A NEW LEADER, AND HE LIKES RAP

Carr has an agenda and is working through the holidays to ensure his vision for the FCC is ready to execute starting January 21st. Here’s what you don’t know. The commission is creating a radio/audio portal. RAP is the acronym. 

Like the NCAA, talent will notify their current employer of their intention to enter the portal to transfer their skills to another radio station or content provider. The employer will have 48 hours to enter the talent into the database. Once in the portal, other employers (those who pay into the system, of course) can contact the talent to discuss options for transferring their skills and employment to another company.

Technological advances have reduced the need for talent to move to another market, so moving costs are never involved in the decision. Oh, along with the RAP, the FCC will reduce syndication to one show per station. This will create more of a need for on-air shifts at individual stations. The owners will respond by extending the shifts to twice the standard time. Anticipating that move, the FCC will require the Nielsen daypart designation (6A-10A, 10A-3P, 3P-7P, 7P-12M, 12M-6A) for the on-air shifts occupied daily by different talents. I told you this was fantasy…mixed with some heresy. 

Under this new portal system, talent can quickly move their craft to a different brand and market. They’ll have a better chance of moving from Overnights in Paducah to Afternoon Drive in Omaha because the Omaha talent got picked up in the portal by Los Angeles. 

However, it doesn’t favor only the talent. Owners can find someone in this fantasy portal much faster than the current system of job applications and interviews. Oh, one other point. A talent can continue a career in this beloved field of entertainment and human connection and companionship. But, like college sports, there’s a period of eligibility: four years, with exceptions. Each on-air shift at the radio station or audio outlet has a four-year eligibility. A talent could cycle through all five dayparts and make a 20-year career at one station.

Back to reality. Cheering for a college sports program as a fan has always been about your connection to the program because of proximity, family tradition, experience at a game, or education at the school. We’re fans of a team first, then the players and the coaches. Your team may have one of the best QBs in the school’s history, but if the team is 2-10 on the season, you’ll remember the disappointing season more than the star player.

In the radio portal system, brand strength would be more important than ever. A station could lose its star player after a year of service. I know what you’re thinking. That happens now. Yes, but it would happen more often in the RAP system.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WITH OR WITHOUT “RAP”:

Is your brand strong enough to withstand the rapid changes of talent moves? Is the music and on-air presentation so good that you’ll continue to win with different players every few years?

Is your coaching staff executing the strategy and vision so the players understand “our” system and what it means for “our” season?

Is your marketing and promotion focused on the benefits to the audience? As a football fan, if I go to a game in Tuscaloosa or Ann Arbor, I expect to be entertained by the home team winning.

When you lose a good player in the RAP system (and you will), can you replace that talent with someone who isn’t as good as the one you lost but will improve because of your brand strength and coaching system?

With or without a talent portal system, brand strength and vision are the keys to allowing amazing talent to make your brand even stronger season after season.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Consultant’s Corner: Lee Abrams, Lee Abrams Media Visions

Jeff Lynn
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Consultant’s Corner: Lee Abrams, Lee Abrams Media Visions

Lee Abrams has decades of experience in radio, TV news, and print media. He has consulted over 1,000 radio stations and designed XM satellite radio. He developed Album Oriented Rock (AOR) and is a member of the Rock Radio Hall of Fame, along with awards too numerous to list.

He is this week’s featured consultant.

Jeff Lynn: What is the current state of the radio industry?

Lee Abrams: I’m amazed that at this time of unprecedented competition in audio, terrestrial radio has its eye off the creative ball, opting for autopilot presentations and creative paralysis. There are, of course, stations that are successful, but the era of where radio as the great American soundtrack is fading/faded, you would think radio would be on creative steroids. Imagination is about brainpower, not money power — new angles and ideas, even for traditional formats, has never been more important, and the best ideas often cost nothing or aren’t particularly labor intensive. 

It was a completely different ecosystem in the earlier pre-consolidation days, but we had people blowing up playbooks, making magic, and introducing often radical new approaches, and often with spectacular success.

SOMEBODY must have new ideas and the moxie to develop a plan. 

There are plenty of offshoot formats that skew in a modified direction, but I haven’t heard any that are rewriting the playbook at a time when those who can rewrite it and execute it have a chance to do some damage.    

Again, it’s a new world out there with new rules but radio programming is addicted to the 80s playbook in 2025! I’m just thinking it’s time for some serious action to breathe life into a medium that requires innovation and shakes itself up in most areas. It’s happening in operations, tech, and finance but not in programming.  It’s about ideas more than spending money.

There are new format opportunities, too, beyond another rebranding of AC. Many targeting 55+ which is radio’s sweet spot of radio-centric listenership.

Personally, I listen to News Radio, which I find refreshing for its directness in a world of political skew, misinformation, and cliches in traditional news. 

A few years ago, I wrote this in “State of Radio,” which is a deep dive that still applies:

JL: As the founder of the AOR format, how do you see it currently, and how has it changed since you started it?

LA: Well, the biggest changes include:

-less depth by core artists.

-little new music compared to then.

-an addiction to cheesy Star Wars sound effect promos.

-Little interaction with core artists.

-fewer features and special programming.

-Lack of eccentricity. 

-Fewer anchor personalities outside of morning.

On the plus side, there are some great long-term success stories where stations have morphed into fuller service stations, including carrying the NFL, having a strong morning presence, big local visibility, and bulletproof playlists. Classic Rock is the new MOR—not a bad thing.

JL: Have a lot of stations that were once AOR slid into Classic Rock?

LA: Yes, it’s a natural evolution. The music people like between 16-20 is what you like for life—the musically formative years. There’s a gigantic group (and underserved) called baby boomers where the 60s and 70s music is the soundtrack of their lives. Classic Rock evolved out of AOR as the original listeners have grown.

It’s funny because in the late 70s, there was the great 25-34 scare, and census data would illustrate a decline in 18-24. Therefore, many 18-24 driven stations panicked and figured that a rocker on his/her 25th birthday would throw out their Hendrix records and suddenly like Neil Diamond since they’re now 25-34 “adults.” Didn’t happen. The relationship with ‘their’ artists became stronger until these artists reached the untouchable stage of superstardom. 

JL: I remember AOR as free-form and deep tracks that people would step out on. With PPM and programmers reluctant to take music chances, is it possible to have this type of presentation?

LA: They often resist taking music risks because they may be subject to corporate playlists and/or lack the understanding of their audience, not knowing what will click to 2025 ears. Music selection is more than scheduling. It’s immersion into the genre.  Understanding the music parameters, but within that parameter, there may be opportunities for exciting new tracks. Perhaps new research techniques are necessary to account for the modern listening scenario, which requires new ways to examine real-time music trends.

Here’s a piece on music programming I wrote back at XM.

JL: Personalities are being consolidated into national shows spread across several markets; how does this bode for the future of radio?

LA: I’ve always been a fan of national radio. It can be big and badass. The key is if it’s national, SAY SO. Being national and pretending it’s local is more trickery than radio seems to like. Live and local is great, but economically, it is not always feasible.  I’d rather hear great national talent than generic card readers. Hats off to the stations that are able to afford local personalities, but I see National Radio growing. An extreme example- but I don’t think Howard Stern fans care where he is. For the stations that are locally originated I don’t hear a lot of local references in the way it used to be.  When I was a kid, we’d drive from Chicago to Miami on holidays through Indy, Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, and Jacksonville. Every station sounded unique to its community. Make that same trip today; it sounds like one station. The sameness is astounding. If you’re going local, do it. Engage as the great MOR stations did in the past. Completely absorbed in their city. Simply saying local won’t cut it. At ZRock, we were national and proud of it. We had branches of our national army in 50 cities. It was a National family.

JL: You pioneered researching Psychographics. Can you expound a bit on that?

LA: Age/Sex demographics were designed for sales. We needed new categories designed for programmers. Back when we first started focusing on psychographics, you could take a 30-year-old. Traditionally, they were male or female. Psychographics allowed us to look at types of people within those age ranges. For example, that 30-year-old male might think Springsteen is the greatest, another could care less and prefer Country music, another might be into R&B, and another into eclectic music. The point is there are so many types of people within any age/sex demographic.

Here’s a recent psychographic breakdown:

Along those lines, we also did some very eclectic research, including hitchhiking studies, to learn about in-car listening habits. And call back cards to talk with people who bought records. This kept us ahead of the pack in understanding our target and delivering the goods. One hitchhiking example was a DJ talking up a record— jocks loved it; that guy driving a Ford would pound the dashboard and scream, “Shut the f up and play the song.” 

JL: As the co-founder of SiriusXM, you have seen both sides of the equation. What are the biggest threats and, conversely, the biggest opportunities for terrestrial radio?

LA: The two biggest threats are economic instability (and the resulting ad loads among other things ) and lazy imaginations. We all know about the economic strain— much out of the control of the rank and file. But imagination laziness creates very average stations at a time when average sucks. Programmers are unfortunately saddled with overbearing workloads, but there’s an imagination gene that needs to be fired up.     

AFDI ( actually f—-ing) doing it is critical to imagination execution. 

AFDI—— ACTUALLY F- – – – – G DOING IT

AFDI is a slogan I came up with many years ago. The scenario was a radio station that was once on top with a 7 share. In recent years, they had declined to a 3, and we were called in.

On my first visit, I met with the GM and said, “Let’s get you, me, the program director, the production director, the sales manager, and other voices and bury ourselves in a hotel suite with a lot of radios so we can do a complete audit of ourselves and competitors.” The idea being tearing apart ourselves and the market and generating new ideas that’ll bring back the glory. No distractions. A total deep dive. Media surgery.

At 3 am, eight of us emerged from the trade-out suite. A ton of legal pads (old-school before devices ) loaded with ideas and angles. Everyone was charged up and ready to reinvent themselves and the station. As a road-driven consultant, I left the next day armed with plans to rebuild this station, which still had good circulation, good signal, and the tools to succeed, allowing them to execute.

A month later, I returned.  Notes in tow.  The initial conversation went like this:

Q: Did we do this?

A: No, we thought we’d analyze it further ( paralysis by analysis )

Q: Did we do this?

A: The home office would never approve.

Q: Did we do this?

A: Oh…forgot about that one.

Q: Did we do this?

A: No, we had a meeting and decided against it.

Q: Did we do this?

A: Too risky.

Q: Did we do this?

A: We are going to maybe test it at 4 am.

The point is: THEY DID NOTHING and reverted back to their 3 share.

Maybe it was fear of change, laziness, or an extreme lack of imagination or motivation. Not a good idea when the old way was tanking them.

That’s where AFDI emerged. Actually F- – – – -G Doing it

It was a battle cry at XM and other projects. Come up with ideas that are legal, cost-effective, and growth-generating. And AFDI!

That’s the problem with mission statements. Often, they’re BS. I was at a TV station once where the statement included things like:

We are on the cutting edge of programming.

We have a personal relationship with our viewers.

We put the community first.

Etc.

I asked the Sales Manager if he believed that. His response “Hell no, if we did half of those things, we’d be #1. 

It’s easy to roll along “hoping” things will improve. Chances are they won’t unless you go through the exercise and AFDI.

This applies to literally all businesses. The great ones AFDI when they’re already on top.

AFDI’s cousin is “the creative batting average.” Come up with 100 ideas, and if 70 of them stink, you’re an all-star because that means 30 worked. Gotta get off the bench and take swings. If the 30 are good, no one will remember the 70 that weren’t so hot. Like in baseball, the greatest hitters also struck out a lot. But you remember the homers.  Get off the bench and AFDI.

JL: With all you have done and accomplished, can you identify a couple of highlights?

LA: The launch of XM was an amazing time. We started with a clean canvas and created some wonderful channels and developed a new playbook. Reinventing radio. A lot of great programmers all together in one oasis of creativity. Along with people like Dave Logan and a fantastic staff, we charted a new course for radio. It’s changed quite a bit. Prior to that, launching Burkhart/Abrams with Kent Burkhart back around ‘73. Another era of unprecedented growth…and fun. We later brought on guys like Dwight Douglas, Lee Michaels (RIP), Jon Sinton, and others. The level of work we put into it might put some people in the hospital, but we had a blast pioneering many new ideas and working with some great stations. Along with Denny Somach, I had a label deal through Capitol. Cinema Records. They had a huge hit with Eric Johnson, “Ah Via Musicom.” I also worked with several major artists as a career advisor.

Back in 2002, we launched a 24/7 digital TV news channel called TOUCHVISION. It was only on in Chicago. It was WAY ahead of its time. I learned a lot, and it got me totally engaged in the future of video news. You haven’t heard the last of that concept! The time is right. Stay tuned.

There are really too many amazing experiences, but those are four that stand out. We’d need a lot of time to go through all of the stories. They’re endless and range from amusing to insane.  

JL: What advice would you give radio programmers to stand out with all the competition for ears?

LA: Balance science and emotion. The science is the playlist construction, format mechanics, etc. The emotion is creating the culture to invent. To imagine. To be a media artist painting an amazing picture with your station. Re-examine the playbook.  Update to 2025. Lead with new ideas even within a structured format. Colorize the station sound. Study the great airchecks of the past to see how you can capture that magic on 2025 terms and realities. Be a student of programming. Think like a listener. Learn the history of modern radio. Drake, Storz, and McLendon are on the short list of people you should learn about. Study the great battles—the originators. Dive in and know you need to understand the past to design the future.

JL: What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?

I have received great advice from many people, but what stands out is the advice I didn’t listen to. Such as (1969) “rock music on FM will never work” or (1998) ‘no one will ever pay for radio.’ The point being that any adventurous thinker needs thick skin for all the naysayers to new ideas. 

Connect with Lee Abrams here.

Email here:

Michael Kay is Preparing for a New Start at ESPN New York

Derek Futterman
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Michael Kay is Preparing for a New Start at ESPN New York

As preparations were being made for the holiday edition of The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York, longtime listeners were wrapped around the building weathering the winter chill. Situated beyond the glass panes fortifying the restaurant against the frigid conditions, the audience was ready to ring in the holiday season with joy and nostalgia. At the same time, there was a finality associated with this occasion that was a mere coincidence, representing the end of a consistent presence that had long permeated through the local airwaves.

The trio of Michael Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg was preparing to host its final episode of the show and had the added benefit of witnessing the crowd ahead of signing off as a group one last time. Before attendees were admitted inside of the venue, Kay decided to bear the elements and stayed outside for an hour perusing the line. Shaking hands, taking pictures and signing autographs, he wanted to demonstrate his appreciation for the legion of fans who had adopted the weekday staple into their lives. The display of gratitude and appreciation was only the beginning of a day that struck a chord between poignancy and celebration.

“We really do look at the people that listen to our show and consume our show as part of the family, and there was just so much love in that room, and we really, really felt it, and you had to fight back emotions every now and then, but it was great to end it where you could actually see the people that make the show – the audience,” Kay said. “If it was just in a studio and you said goodbye, I don’t think it would have had the same impact, but the impact of doing it live was really, really, really special because it involved everybody.”

The outing proceeded with riveting sports discussion and debate with special guests and retrospection. As the show proceeded through its last shift, a decision that Kay had been considering for more than three years was suddenly becoming a reality.

Recognizing that his schedule involving hosting the radio show and broadcasting New York Yankees baseball on YES Network was becoming a physically and mentally exhausting task, he knew that in order to do justice to both roles, something would eventually have to change. A typical day at Yankee Stadium involved Kay arriving at 1:30 p.m. to prepare for the show and hosting inside of a shipping container on the ballpark loading dock until 6:30 p.m. From there, he would race up to the broadcast booth to pre-tape the game open, eat dinner for about eight minutes and then call a nine-inning baseball game.

“I kept thinking about an exit strategy because I love doing it, and during the winter, it’s great because there is no baseball, so it’s just like having one job, but for 6-7 months of the year, it’s just not,” Kay explained, “so I just said, ‘I’ve got to think of an exit strategy.’”

Before Kay signed his last contract for the afternoon show, he considered himself to be “as good as 95% gone.” Reflecting back on the situation, Kay articulated that Norby Williamson, former executive editor and head of event and studio production at ESPN, is the person who stepped in and ultimately convinced him to stay.

As he continued to host afternoon drive, the station endured several changes as The Walt Disney Company sought to lay off 7,000 employees and slashed $5.5 billion in operating costs ahead of a strategic reorganization. The ESPN Audio division suffered several key cuts, including ESPN New York program director Ryan Hurley, senior vice president Scott McCarthy and senior director of audio programming Pete Gianesini.

Two years earlier, longtime ESPN New York general manager Tim McCarthy was let go from the company, someone who was integral in the start of The Michael Kay Show in 2002. Kay did not see himself as a talk show host, and it was McCarthy who emphasized that he would be great and implored him to partake in the endeavor. The show originally launched in middays, where it eventually added La Greca on the air, and later moved to afternoon drive in March 2005.

“Just at the beginning when we’re on 1050 and there didn’t seem to be any traction, he said, ‘Turning ratings around is like turning around a battleship. It just takes forever, but then once you have it pointed in the right direction, it can really move,’ and he was so right,” Kay said. “It took a long, long time, and then obviously the move to 98.7 played a big role as well, [which] gave us more of a reach and an audience.”

Good Karma Brands purchased WEPN-AM as part of a larger transaction with The Walt Disney Company that closed in the first quarter of 2022. Under the terms of the deal, the company would also perform ESPN obligations under its local marketing agreement (LMA) for the 98.7 FM frequency, which was being leased from Emmis Communications under a 12-year pact. As Good Karma Brands became more implemented in day-to-day operations of the local station, Kay developed trust in chief executive officer Craig Karmazin and president Steve Politziner and recognized their perception of the future.

Over the summer, Good Karma Brands opted not to enter in a new deal for 98.7 FM and instead focus on distribution of ESPN New York through digital verticals and 1050 AM. In addition to the move away from the FM dial, Good Karma Brands stopped subscribing to Nielsen Audio ratings data for local markets, fundamentally altering the means by which progress against the competition was measured. The distribution plan changed a few weeks before the switch when it signed a new local marketing agreement with Audacy that moved the station’s programming to the 880 AM clear channel frequency.

“It just made us feel, ‘Okay, we’re continuing to be in the game,’ and all the new metrics really, really do count, but we also know that we’re on a strong signal, which we could tell advertisers as well that their ads, their content is going to be hard on this great signal,” Kay said. “I don’t know if I would have gone up this hill without those two guys explaining to me exactly what we were doing, but my utmost belief in them made it worthwhile for me to continue in the battle with them.”

Williamson departed ESPN this past April after working with the company for nearly four decades, and a few months later, the network announced a sweeping restructuring of its content division. David Roberts was subsequently named an executive vice president and the executive editor of sports news and entertainment and has oversight over ESPN Audio content. There had been discussions about Kay’s future in afternoon drive before this time, but the structural alterations at the company added layers and cultivated ambiguity.

“It went from one hand to the next and to the next, and everybody was kind of frozen on what they could do,” Kay said, “and we talked parameters with money and stuff like that, and finally, I just said, ‘This is silly. No matter what I get paid, I’m not going to do it the right way’ in terms of my age and the length of time that you have to commit to it because if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right.”

With Roberts overseeing the audio division, he asked Kay what it would take and what he would be able to provide about a month and a half ago. Within two weeks of these questions being posited, including a subsequent discussion with Karmazin and Politziner, he reached a new multiyear deal with the company. A two-hour show featuring Kay had been talked about towards the end of the baseball season, and it was now slated to become a reality in middays. Even though he will be hosting solo, Kay believes it will be beneficial for his co-hosts to move on from The Michael Kay Show and have their names on an afternoon drive program.

“I think a two-hour show for me doing it alone, this way I’m not weighing anybody down with my schedule or anything like that, and it started out with me alone a long, long time ago before Tim slid in Don, so it’s kind of going back to the future a little bit,” Kay said. “But leaving those two is very, very difficult, and leaving the bulk of afternoon drive is difficult because that’s the prime real estate in radio – morning and afternoon drive.”

Once it became public knowledge that The Michael Kay Show was ending in its current iteration, fans reached out to the hosts to divulge their gratitude through social media, phone calls and direct messages. Making the adjustment to the new schedule, which takes effect in full on Monday, Jan. 6, will take some time for Kay as he prepares for this new challenge.

“I want to engage with the listeners a lot, take phone calls and just be creative and clever,” Kay said. “I’ve been going over a lot of things in my head that I want to do, which I haven’t quite nailed down specifically, but it’s going to have the same fun vibe, I hope, because I’m still out of my mind.”

During the baseball season, Kay will host editions of the midday program from home or at a hotel depending on the schedule and will usually have a four-hour gap until the start of the game. To demonstrate his commitment to the vision at ESPN New York, he signed a multiyear contract with the outlet, coinciding with new agreements for Rosenberg and Hahn as well. On top of that, Kay’s deal to call Yankees baseball on YES Network is not yet finished as he approaches his 34th year broadcasting games for the team.

“I believe that this is more sustainable over the longer haul than doing afternoon drive and going right to a Yankee game,” Kay said. “So yeah, I’ll be around for a while. We’ll see how it works out. We’ll see if they want me.”

After the final show came to a conclusion from Tommy’s Tavern + Tap in Clifton. N.J., Kay and his colleagues stayed at the restaurant for two hours to speak with the fans, signing autographs and taking pictures. Even though the program had officially ended its 22-year run, Kay wanted the fans to know how important they were to the show and thank them for their support.

As Kay makes the transition to the new timeslot, he is grateful for everyone involved in his broadcasting career and looks forward to the shorter runway. ESPN New York remains widely accessible to listeners through terrestrial and digital platforms, and he is optimistic that everything will work out. Kay, who is one of the longest tenured voices at the station, remains dedicated to serving the audience and bringing his nuanced opinions and analysis to the airwaves.

“[The show] was great – it really was – and it didn’t feel like 22 years,” Kay said. “It felt like we started it, I don’t know, a couple of years ago. It went by so fast, and there are a lot of highs [and] some lows like with anything in life, and I’m pretty proud of the work that we all did. So 22 years, it seems like forever, but it didn’t feel like that when you were in the middle of it.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

ESPN Radio’s ‘Unsportsmanlike’ with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon Is as Much Fun as It Is Diverse

Dave Greene
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ESPN Radio’s ‘Unsportsmanlike’ with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon Is as Much Fun as It Is Diverse

In August of 2023, ESPN Radio announced a revamped lineup which included its fourth morning show in six years since the end of
Mike & Mike. The new show would replace Keyshawn, JWill and Max which was hosted by Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman. The new trio ESPN Radio chose to lead off its prime programming day consisted of Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon. The show, which I eavesdropped in on last Friday, is called Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle.

Evan Cohen is a 20+ year sports media veteran who left his SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show Morning Men to host the new ESPN morning show. In addition to his hosting duties for the national network, Cohen serves as vice president of content at Good Karma Brands, a company he started with out of college.

Smallmon, who I first met when she interned with KFNS in St. Louis as she was just starting out in the business, had previously been a producer at ESPN Radio, before she came back to St. Louis and co-hosted morning drive with Randy Karraker at 101 ESPN.

Chris Canty is a Super Bowl-champion defensive tackle. He spent 11 years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. He has been with ESPN Radio since 2021 and previously was in afternoon drive with Chris Carlin. Prior to his national show, Canty appeared on DiPietro, Canty & Rothenberg on 98.7 FM ESPN New York, teaming with Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg.

Together, the three create a fun, loose show with just the right mix of opinion, insight and laughter. As the Friday, December 20 edition of the show got going, the immediate thing I thought about was the mix of the three people hosting the show, their diversity and different backgrounds. I was interested to hear how it all meshed together.

As the show got going, Chris ‘Canty Claus’ got started on the topic of gift wrapping. It was a fun way to get a Friday show started right before the holidays. As the world’s worst gift-wrapper, it was interesting to hear the take from the three hosts on the subject. Canty wondered if a poorly wrapped gift takes away from the experience. Even a simple, fun topic like this one, you get the various perspectives of both males and females, people with kids and without kids, so you are never left hearing just one side of anything.

Inside the segment, Canty refers to Smallmon as “the voice of reason” on the show and often times she becomes the deciding factor in things Cohen and Canty disagree on, which makes for good material on the show. Smallmon is the lone female in a cast that also includes Lead Producer Nuno Teixeira, Associate Producer Pat Costello, Board Operator JoVante Lawrence, TV simulcast Producers Mark Morales and Sam Pierce and Program Director for the show Liam Chapman.

In 2024, this is a very smart way to put a show together. Trying to give representation to as many different types of people as possible while all bonding over the love of sports and competition. This is how people learn other people’s sides of things, by hearing what they have to say and how it may differ from someone else.

Cohen is a true pro running the show, hitting the teases and setting up his co-hosts while never shying away from giving strong opinions. Canty, meanwhile, is a rising star in the world of sports media. He is instant offense when giving his opinions and can bring the heat when necessary. Not only was he in the NFL but playing in markets like Dallas and New York and then doing media in New York has him primed for a long, successful career.

As they got into the topics of the day, it all started with Thursday Night Football. As they started to talk about what happened in the game the night before between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers, Cohen said he believes Canty breaks down football “better than anybody out there.” The Chargers won the game 34-27 and the and the topic turned into whether the story was the LA win or the Denver loss.

There was also the matter of the ‘fair catch kick’ that happened in the game and there was good use of audio from Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh about how it is “his favorite play in football” (only Jim Harbaugh…). That was mixed in with their opinions about the two teams and what they have in front of them as far as the AFC playoff picture.

Smallmon’s preparation for the show is obvious and she is able to add in facts to the conversation to support the takes being given. Next, the talk moved to the Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game coming up and again they had some good audio from both Jason McCourty and Jeff Saturday and them talking about the game being a must win for the Ravens.

As the show moves on, Cohen consistently does a great job of playing point guard and setting the others up with topics and questions. But like any true point guard, he has the ability to ‘take it to the hole’ himself. In this case the offense is really the passion with which he will give a take – definitely not afraid to get excited and make bold statements.

Canty brings that locker room experience that is great to have as he can tell you what players and coaches are thinking about and talking about in certain situations. He can also get to what matters and would later add when asked if the Ravens can win the Super Bowl, “The only way they can go to the Super Bowl is if somebody takes out the trash out for them. If somebody beats the Kansas City Chiefs, then I think the Baltimore Ravens have a chance to go to the Super Bowl…but somebody will have to beat the Chiefs because they can’t do it.”

Later there was the cleverly named segment ‘Can He or Canty’ where the other two hosts throw questions at Canty which in this case were ones such as ‘Can the Super Bowl Chiefs win the Super Bowl without home field advantage?’ (‘Yes’ was his answer).

The hosts had a pretty interesting conversation about the playoff system and James Franklin. The belief is that James Franklin can’t win big games, and even though his team plays SMU (they would win that one) and then Boise State, most people would still say those aren’t ‘big wins’ even though it would be two wins in the playoffs. That does not speak well for the way the bracket is set up.

The show, which is simulcast on ESPNU, has the opportunity to have great guests and insiders from the ESPN family join the show and it takes full advantage of that. Dan Graziano and Bart Scott were both in the studio as the subject of the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers took center stage. The visit included Graziano going hard at Aaron Rodgers saying, “He is a con artist, he is a narcissist. He is self-absorbed to the absolute maximum. And if he has you fooled again, that’s on you.”

Smallmon had a great line when they were talking about the Jets saying about some of the people Woody Johnson chooses to listen to, “Just because you’ve bought a house, doesn’t mean you can sell a house.” She made the point that just because people are successful in investments or follow the game of football closely, they aren’t more qualified than the people being paid to make football decisions.

Canty ended up stating the obvious, he believes Johnson is, “The worst owner in the sport, and one of the worst in all of sports.” At the same time, he added the context to the discussion that what Johnson does and things that get out about the organization may affect who the team is able to get to come in and be the next General Manager and Head Coach, knowing they will have to deal with the decisions made by the owner.

Another segment the team did was called ‘Four Downs’ and like many of the segments on the show, it was really another way for questions prepared ahead of time to be asked of some of the hosts by one of the other. There was some good college football talk in the segment, mostly around the Texas Longhorns and what will happen with quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning.

The show has a real family dynamic to it, complete with arguments that families sometimes have. When some of the crew jumps in it can be a lot of voices going on, but never was it overwhelming and I would imagine regular listeners have a sense of being a part of the family as they listen each day.

Whether it was breaking down the rookie seasons of Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix, or talking about Michelle’s family lasagna recipe, the hours move quickly, and the hosts keep their energy up throughout the four hours.

As has become common in the sports talk world, the show had a ‘Pick Em’ segment, and they went over some of the bigger games on the schedule for the weekend. Again, Canty shined with the way he breaks down the games and players while Cohen and Smallmon dropped in nuggets of information.

Another segment they had prepared was called ‘Release the Takes’ where it was to be two takes given that they would release out into the world but not be held accountable for. Several strong takes were given including Smallmon doubting the Chiefs chances to win the Super Bowl even though she gave that same take last year and saying the Bears would hire Mike Vrabel who she expects will come in and change the whole culture similar to what Dan Campbell has done with the Lions.

Canty took back his take that Anthony Richardson had a bright career ahead of him and said he believes Nick Sirianni will end up losing his job with the Eagles. Meanwhile Evan Cohen reminded everyone that last year he said Josh Allen would be the NFL MVP this year, which looks like it could come true, and predicted Justin Herbert will win it next season. He also jumped on the Bill Belichick bandwagon big time and said the team will be ACC champs and be in the college football playoff next season.

Later, Joe Fortenbaugh joined in the fun, and they went through some of his selections for the weekend games. I always appreciate these segments when it is more than just the picks being made. I hear a lot of shows get lazy with picks segments and give no context or support for the decisions made. That is never the case with Fortenbaugh and his interaction with the Unsportsmanlike team made for great content.

Throughout the remainder of the show there was insight into the Notre Dame-Indiana game to be played later that night, an ‘Unsportsmanlike Moments of the Day’ segment that was pretty funny. And whether you were learning football trivia from Jeopardy clips or hearing the hosts thoughts on mayonnaise (I wrote that full spelling out just for you, Chris Canty) it kept you entertained and informed with a lot of personality from many different perspectives.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

How Radio Can Avoid Overestimating Its Audience

Dr. Ed Cohen
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How Radio Can Avoid Overestimating Its Audience

All of us who write for the radio and media trades are always looking for ideas and on occasion, we use atypical sources for a column. This week, we’ll take our lead from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, better known as the OECD (if you’re aware of them at all) and The Economist.

The OECD has been around for over 60 years and has 38 member countries including the United States. Most are wealthier countries, and none would be classified as “third world”. The OECD’s stated goal is “better policies for better lives”. The Economist, a magazine that still refers to itself as a newspaper, predates Marconi, having begun publication in 1843. It also produces what is likely the world’s longest podcast. Since July 2007, The Economist in Audio, with professional broadcasters reading an entire issue, typically includes 7-8 hours or more of material each week (and no spots!).

The December 12th issue of The Economist contained an article entitled “Can You Read as Well as a Ten-Year-Old?” and referred to an OECD study. Roughly every ten years, the OECD executes a study of 16–65-year-olds, testing people on literacy and numeracy. Released earlier this month, the results suggest that one-fifth of adults are no better in reading and math than you might expect of a child in elementary school! Most countries declined in both areas, but more so in literacy.

While you may have a personal interest in Finland, Japan, or another of the 31 countries tested, let’s focus on the U.S. 28% of U.S. adults in the study tested at what the OECD calls Level 1 or below. If you’re below level 1, you can understand “short simple sentences”. At Level 1, you can “understand short texts and organized lists when information is clearly indicated, find specific information, and identify relevant links”.

For numeracy, 34% of the US adults tested were at Level 1 or below. Those below Level 1 can add or subtract small numbers. Level 1 means an individual can “do basic math with whole numbers or money, understand decimals, and find single pieces of information in tables or charts, but may struggle with tasks needing multiple steps, for example, solving a proportion”.

Tying a multi-country OECD study to radio may seem far-fetched, but if a chunk of your audience is not very good at reading or math, it matters. As an example, let’s consider the Nielsen radio diary. During my involvement with the service, the goal was to keep the reading level at sixth grade or below. PPM printed materials follow the same rule. The more you “dumb it down”, the better the response rates. It’s safe to say that people will not do something they do not understand. And even if they fill out a diary or answer a survey as a prelude to becoming a PPM home, understanding what is being asked is incredibly important.

Consider how your radio stations present themselves. Is everything you do, on-air, online, or anywhere else, easy to understand? If you run contests, whether local or national, are they simple ones? If you’re offering anything that involves money, for example, discount deals online, is the arithmetic super simple? Just because you may easily understand the materials doesn’t mean all of your audience will get it.

A while back, I wrote a column about understanding ratings. As I’ve said for many years, if you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide (or have a calculator on your phone), ratings are easy. Maybe you’re in that Level 2 numeracy group and have trouble with all the estimates that Nielsen can throw at you. Don’t let the numbers bother you. Again, everything you need is in your phone and the calculations are straightforward.

There was one other measure in the OECD report referred to as “adaptive problem solving”. The US results showed 32% at or below Level 1 proficiency. Below means “understanding very simple problems, typically solved in one step”. Level 1 is described as solving “simple problems with few variables and little irrelevant information…”. Does this infer that many US adults would have trouble operating their vehicle’s infotainment system? Most systems aren’t simple and this result infers why many owners of newer vehicles can’t use all the features available to them. That may include finding a favorite radio station.

We’ve all heard the KISS principle many times…Keep It Simple, Stupid! Based on the OECD’s results, it’s obvious that you can’t overestimate the skill level of a portion of your audience. If you want, you can review the US portion of the study for yourself.

This is my last column of 2024 and I offer a humble “thank you” for your time reading my column this year and best wishes to you and your family this holiday season.

Let’s meet again next year!

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Mike Stone: NFL Playing on Christmas Day ‘Almost Sacrilegious’

BSM Staff
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Mike Stone: NFL Playing on Christmas Day ‘Almost Sacrilegious’

Sports fans have plenty of options to choose from this weekend, with key games taking place in both college football and the NFL. The 12-team College Football Playoff commences on Friday night with a first-round game between No. 10 Indiana and No. 7 Notre Dame. Throughout Saturday afternoon, two more CFP games take place that air at the same time as a doubleheader of pivotal NFL matchups. The first-round matchup between No. 9 Tennessee and No. 8 Ohio State closes out the night in prime time television on ESPN and ABC, which also takes place as basketball and hockey games air per usual.

With a number of choices being offered, former 97.1 The Ticket host Mike Stone wanted to know whether people would watch college football or the NFL if offered the choice on Saturday. Stone, who was filling in for Jon Jansen on the morning show, asked co-host Jim Costa his opinion regarding the matter while he also shared texts from listeners divulging their opinions. Although Costa has several NFL fantasy teams still alive in leagues, he affirmed that he would choose college football in this scenario.

“Ohio State, which may be overrun with Volunteers fans, and they all might be pulling for Tennessee by the end of that game because Ohio State fans are going to be just a mess if they can’t win this football game,” Costa said. “There’s great college football games to watch this weekend, and that’s not a knock against the NFL games, but what are the stakes of Texans-Chiefs? Seeding?”

One of the listeners who texted their opinion into the show concurred with Costa, saying since the NFL games only consist of AFC teams, he would watch college football instead. The four teams that are scheduled to play on Saturday will have a short week to take part in the first-ever NFL games to be exclusively streamed on Netflix as part of a Christmas Day doubleheader. Although the league had played Christmas Day games in the past, it was never an annual endeavor until the 2020 season, and it has exhibited strong intrigue despite being up against the NBA.

“[That] is a whole different [thing],” Stone said regarding NFL games on Christmas Day. “I think it’s almost sacrilegious. ‘Well, NBA does it.’ Well, that’s a tradition, whatever.”

Costa asked Stone why the NFL should opt against starting a new tradition, to which he replied that he does not want NFL games to take place on a Wednesday. After conveying that Christmas Day does not always fall on Wednesdays, Stone added that he understands and hopes that the holiday does not fall on a Tuesday.

“Around the holiday, a lot of people got time off,” Costa explained. “Days of the week blur together for people. I’m not sure it’s that big a deal whether it’s a Tuesday or Wednesday. It’s going to be a day that people have off and they can sit down and watch big NFL games, as long as they make it good matchups.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Harrison Francesa Appearing for an Hour on WFAN with Sal Licata on December 27

BSM Staff
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Harrison Francesa Appearing for an Hour on WFAN with Sal Licata on December 27

Harrison Francesa has revealed that he will be appearing on WFAN for one hour of programming alongside Sal Licata on Friday, Dec. 27. The exact timing of when he will appear on the air remains to be determined. Francesa, who is the son of legendary WFAN host Mike Francesa, appeared on his father’s show when he was younger and has appeared on the WFAN Daily podcast with Licata in the past.

In announcing the news on social media, Francesa tweeted a picture of himself when he was younger sitting behind the microphones with headphones on as his father was hosting a show. Licata formerly served as Francesa’s producer and attributes the sports radio host to believing in him and vouching that he should get a show.

Francesa is attending Fairfield University and has interned at Barstool Sports for the last two summers, working with its team of content creators and covering the world of sports. Mike Francesa watched Game 5 of the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers from the Barstool Sports offices in New York City and has also appeared on other content for the digital sports brand. After his departure from afternoon drive on WFAN, he started a podcast with the BetRivers Network where he creates content disseminated on audio and video platforms.

Francesa put his son on the air in 2019 for his birthday where they talked about current events in sports and growing up. Colin Russo, the son of Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo, who Francesa worked with on the Mike and the Mad Dog afternoon drive program for 19 years, is currently a sports talk radio host at ESPN West Palm Beach. Russo has been hosting the new show since its launch in September alongside Mike Rizzo, the son of ESPN Cleveland afternoon drive host Tony Rizzo.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Howard Eskin: SportsRadio 94WIP, Audacy Exit Due to Irreconcilable Differences

BSM Staff
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Howard Eskin: SportsRadio 94WIP, Audacy Exit Due to Irreconcilable Differences

Earlier today, Philadelphia sports radio legend Howard Eskin announced that he is leaving SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia after 38 years with the station. Eskin helped launch WIP into the sports talk format in 1986 appearing as its first voice. He then moved over with the station to the 94.1 FM frequency in 2011. In recent years, he hosted a Saturday morning show for the outlet. He was also the sideline reporter for Philadelphia Eagles football broadcasts.

In his social media post, Eskin said, “After 38 years I am moving on from Sportsradio WIP where I launched the station’s sports talk franchise in 1986. I leave the station with great affection for the listeners who have made the work I do so fulfilling during my time there. I’m looking forward to what comes next career-wise. I promise you’ll be the first to know. Thank you.”

When asked for comment on the situation, an Audacy spokesperson shared a statement with Barrett Media that said, “WIP and Howard Eskin have parted ways. We thank Howard for his years of contributions to WIP.”

In a conversation with Barrett Media, Eskin revealed that he and WIP did not see eye to eye on different things and were unable to resolve “irreconcilable differences.” Upon being unsuccessful in reaching a resolution, Eskin expressed that he was let go from the station. Even though he is disappointed he will not be able to finish the Eagles season on the sidelines, Eskin looks back on his time covering the team fondly and hopes to use the knowledge elsewhere.

“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished – ironically, I basically created that station and doing the first sports talk show there back in 1986, but that’s alright,” Eskin said. “We all kind of move forward and made it better and did what they did, but I feel proud that I was there to start the ball rolling.”

Eskin recalled that former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins told him that change was important in the pursuit of success, and he reiterated that he was right. Moreover, he stated that there are other opportunities in the industry for him and he needs to decide what he wants to do moving forward.

“I still have passion,” Eskin said. “I’m not tired of doing what I do. I have the passion, I feel great about doing it. You know when you should move on. Well, I know my passion is still there, and I enjoy so much the passion in doing what I do, and with that, it makes me feel good about further opportunities coming up.”

Throughout his time working in sports media, Eskin has been present for many pivotal moments in Philadelphia sports history, including covering the Philadelphia Eagles victory in Super Bowl LIII. Eskin was a fixture in the afternoon drive daypart from 3 to 7 p.m. EST for over two decades and hosted approximately 6,000 shows in the window. In addition to his responsibilities hosting on SportsRadio 94WIP, Eskin helped launch FOX29 News Philadelphia and also worked with CBS Philadelphia as well.

Eskin’s son, Spike, was formerly the program director of the station and now hosts in afternoon drive alongside Ike Reese and Jack Fritz. To begin Friday’s edition of the program, Spike addressed his father’s departure from the station.

“I love my dad, and I am incredibly proud and I think – what’s the word I’m looking for?,” Eskin said. “Without him, first of all WIP is not where it is today, but specifically for me, I would not be here. Now look, I’m way better than he ever was, but without him, none of this happens, and without the institutional knowledge I have growing up around him, all of those things, and the things that he gave the station, gave to me, I am very thankful for.”

Spike Eskin expressed that he never thought there would be a day when he would say that his father, Howard, was no longer hosting on the station. In fact, he thought he was going to outlast everyone on the station, and that him not being present is something he ever expected.

“I guess the final thing is is that while I’m proud of him and I’m not happy that he’s not here anymore, I personally am incredibly happy where I am at WIP, who I work with with Ike and Jack, with Rod, with my infrastructure here,” Eskin said, “so I am here, and that has nothing to do with him not being here anymore.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

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