Greg “Fletch” Fletcher is returning to morning radio in Hopkinsville. After a four-and-a-half-year absence, he’s heading back to where his legend was built.
What We Know Fletch rejoins Saga Communications’ “Beaver 100.3” WVVR alongside his wife Ruthanna as co-host. The couple transitions from Stonecom’s “106.9 Kicks Country” WKXD in Cookeville, where they’ll also continue mornings simultaneously. He spent two decades at WVVR, with fifteen of those years anchoring mornings from 2002 to 2022. After leaving for the Grand Ole Opry, Fletch now returns as WVVR’s seventh morning show since his departure.
What They Said Cluster Director of Content Ryan Ploeckelman welcomed the move with strong praise. “Fletch has been a big part of Beaver’s history, and one of our most popular morning hosts,” Ploeckelman said. “It is great to have him back, and with his wife Ruthanna as his co-host, the show has never been better.”
What Remains Unclear Saga has not yet announced an official start date for Fletch and Ruthanna at WVVR. It’s also uncertain how their simultaneous dual-market morning commitment will function long-term. Additionally, details on the WKXD transition timeline remain unaddressed.
What It Means Program Director Dave Russell moves from mornings to middays at WVVR, covering 9am-2pm. Russell, who co-hosted mornings with Monica Reed, retains his PD role for WVVR and Classic Country “100.7 The Outlaw.” He also picks up programming responsibilities for Classic Hits “Rewind 94.3” WRND. Russell joined the cluster in March after a career programming stations across Pennsylvania.
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Sports media is all about the next big thing. What’s the latest technology to enhance the viewing experience? What new program will redefine how sports fans talk about sports and its impact on culture? Few programs in sports media truly last, but none come close to the legacy that SportsCenter built, refined, and continues to hold over any other sports highlight program.
Yesterday, Linda Cohn announced her upcoming retirement from ESPN. Over her career, she hosted more episodes of SportsCenter than anyone else. A 34-year tenure that began in 1992, Cohn is just the latest in a string of names that have departed the program over the past several years. Legacy talents such as Neil Everett, John Anderson, Kenny Mayne, and Stan Verrett have all departed the program and network alike.
SportsCenter is the single biggest institution ESPN built. The show was the launching pad for the network’s foundation and continues to be a brand bigger than the talents who encompass it. However, what made SportsCenter must-see television were the personalities who guided it. Stuart Scott, Rich Eisen, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Craig Kilborn, and Cohn were talents who cut through as more than just talking heads reading prompters.
They made SportsCenter pop culture. Every episode was must-see television. The Top 10 was a goal for every athlete imaginable. Every viewer identified with a member of the anchor desk, with many having a favorite or two.
Not Everything Stays The Same
However, time changes. Networks evolve, and so does the consumption of highlights, news, and information. With time, legacy talent departs and moves on to other projects, with few ever reaching the success they once had with SportsCenter. When Cohn announced her upcoming retirement, it made me think back to my original premise. Who’s the next star to come from sports’ most important vessel of highlights, news, and information?
I remembered Dan Le Batard discussing this very premise last year when he was watching SportsCenter during his program yet couldn’t identify the two anchors hosting the show. He spoke about how, at one time, it mattered who was hosting SportsCenter. He explained how the value of the anchor has diminished over time, not just for SportsCenter, but for news coverage in general.
It’s no secret that networks, both national and local, are feeling the pinch of shrinking budgets and evolving audience behavior. Think of your local sports segments on the evening news. What once was a destination for more than five minutes of watch time has now diminished to less than a couple of minutes.
SportsCenter is no different. Highlights are available instantly on social media. News alerts on phones deliver immediate access. Context and depth have been replaced by instant gratification for shorter attention spans. It’s not that SportsCenter has lost value to ESPN. Rather, audience habits have changed.
This was one of the reasons ESPN rolled out its SC For You beta edition with the launch of the ESPN DTC product. With more people gathering information and highlights on social media, ESPN created an AI version of SportsCenter designed to cater to how users consume content within the app. At the time, this was considered breakthrough technology. An app providing the SportsCenter experience when you want it, how you want it, and wherever you want it.
However, what does that say about the value of the anchor role within SportsCenter in general?
Must See SC
Ten years from now, who will be the names remembered alongside those who preceded them? Scott Van Pelt, Jay Harris, and David Lloyd are the old guard holding down the fort. From time to time, we’ll see Steve Levy, Rece Davis, and John Buccigross make an appearance. Kevin Negandhi has also been a steady presence guiding the program.
With all due respect to those I just named, few will have the lasting impact of those who came before them. It’s not a knock to those individual names or any others on the SportsCenter roster of talent. To the average sports fan, SportsCenter is simply not the destination it once was. The show is more background filler than appointment television.
Want proof? Take a look at the viewership figures for recent returns to SportsCenter. Rich Eisen’s return was filled with nostalgia and memories. It also earned 67% more viewers than the program’s average audience. Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann returned seven years ago, and that appearance is still discussed in sports media circles today.
There’s now a podcast series hosted by Eisen called “This Was SportsCenter.” It features interviews showcasing the behind-the-scenes stories and shared legacy of the anchors who manned the desk. On the heels of Cohn’s retirement news, there are now hints of Eisen and Kilborn reuniting for an episode of SportsCenter.
And maybe that’s the real story behind Linda Cohn’s retirement.
Promise Over Personality
It’s not simply that another legendary SportsCenter anchor is stepping away. It’s that with every departure, we’re reminded of how different the role has become. SportsCenter will endure because the brand is bigger than any one personality. It survived the exits of Patrick, Olbermann, Eisen, Scott, Mayne, Anderson, Everett, Verrett, and now Cohn. It will survive this one, too.
What’s less certain is whether it will ever create stars the way it once did.
There are still talented anchors behind the desk, but the media ecosystem that elevated SportsCenter personalities into household names no longer exists. Highlights are everywhere. Attention is fragmented. Audiences follow individual voices on social media more than they follow television programs.
The next great sports media star may emerge from YouTube, TikTok, podcasting, or a streaming platform we haven’t even imagined yet.
For decades, SportsCenter wasn’t just where fans consumed sports news. It was where sports media stars were born. As Linda Cohn prepares to sign off, it’s fair to wonder if her retirement represents more than the end of a remarkable career.
It may be another reminder that the golden age of SportsCenter creating the next generation of iconic personalities is no longer ahead of us.
It’s now far behind us.
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.
One sentence tells you everything you need to know about Tucker Carlson’s fading footprint in conservative media.
In a recent interview, Carlson said: “From my perspective, I have a duty to say what I think is true. I’m often wrong and I always say that because it’s a fact. I have been wrong a lot. And I may be wrong now, but I am sincere. I’m saying what I believe is true. I’m going to continue doing that no matter what.”
Admirable? Sure. But strategic? Not a chance.
That quote reveals a fundamental disconnect between what Carlson values and what the conservative digital media ecosystem actually rewards. And it explains a lot about why The Tucker Carlson Show has seen a notable dip in both viewership and podcast listenership in recent months.
Audiences Don’t Want Information, They Want Confirmation
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about independent conservative media: the audience doesn’t want to be informed. They want to be confirmed. Listeners want to hear what they already believe — delivered with conviction, wrapped in outrage, and fed back to them on a loop. If you don’t give them that, they’ll find someone who will.
That’s not a flattering portrait of the modern conservative media consumer. But it’s an accurate one. Hosts who thrive on platforms like Rumble or dominate podcast charts aren’t necessarily the most accurate voices — they’re the most affirming ones. They pick a side, plant their flag, and never, ever suggest they might be wrong.
Carlson, however, keeps admitting he might be wrong. That’s noble. It’s also a commercial liability.
Think about what that quote signals to an audience trained to distrust ambiguity. A conservative media consumer who turns to Carlson for certainty hears him say he’s “been wrong a lot” — and starts wondering why they’re even listening. The doubt he expresses about himself plants doubt in them. That’s simply not a recipe for building a loyal, growing audience in today’s environment.
The Game Has Changed — And Carlson Hasn’t
The rules of conservative digital media have shifted dramatically, even from just five years ago. Back then, a compelling intellectual voice willing to challenge convention could carve out a massive audience. Carlson did exactly that. But the landscape looks very different now.
Today’s ecosystem rewards certainty above all else. Repetition of familiar narratives drives growth. The host who tells listeners they’re right, the system is rigged, and the answers are simple — that’s who wins now. Nuance doesn’t monetize well. Neither does intellectual humility.
So, when Carlson says he’ll keep sharing what he believes is true, even knowing he might be wrong, that’s admirable on a personal level. But it runs directly counter to what drives growth in this space. It’s not what the algorithm rewards. It’s not what audiences amplify. And it’s not what advertisers in this ecosystem are chasing.
None of this means Carlson is irrelevant. He’s far from it. His audience is still substantial, and his brand still carries real weight. But trajectory matters — and right now, that trajectory points downward.
Here’s where it gets genuinely unfortunate. The instinct Carlson describes — a commitment to sharing honest belief, even imperfect belief — is exactly what media of all kinds desperately needs more of. But the market has decided it doesn’t want that. It wants a mirror, not a window.
That’s bad for Carlson’s business. More importantly, though, it’s bad for audiences who deserve better than a media ecosystem built entirely around telling them what they want to hear. The sad reality is that his principles are costing him audience share — and the voices gaining ground in his wake aren’t offering anything more valuable in return.
So, what does Carlson’s future look like? If he’s willing to bend toward confirmation over conversation, there’s still a massive lane for him. But if he stays the course, the audience may keep drifting toward louder, more certain voices — even if those voices have nothing worth hearing.
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.
Thank you for checking out The Industry According To… Every Tuesday, we speak with a different expert or leader from somewhere in the vast music industry — label executives, artist managers, programmers, talent, artists, consultants, and beyond. To be considered as a future guest, email me at keithblackboxgroup@gmail.com.
Today’s guest is one of the most original and inventive minds in radio: Greg Beharrell. I’ve known Greg personally and professionally for years. In that time, he has proven to be the hardest working radio talent I’ve ever come across. He’s also a rare talent who studies every corner of the industry. Moreover, he always knows what’s happening — and what’s coming next.
“The Greg Beharrell Show” is syndicated through Yea Media Group in over 100 markets in the U.S. and Canada. His newest venture, Greg-FM, is a 24/7 Adult Hits/Variety format where all content is created and voiced by Greg. Beyond radio, he’s a professional VO actor for major brands and has written and acted in his own television projects.
So, let’s dive in.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length...as much as I could*
Self-Deprecation
Keith: Many talent want to be known for their greatness. Yet you’ve built a brand around self-deprecation — often being the butt of the joke. When and how did you realize that would be one of your superpowers?
Greg: The asymmetry of my face started to really show at age 8. I quickly learned that if people were laughing at me, they weren’t laughing with me which is a personal frustration because I want to be able to hear if I’m making me laugh.
Greg-FM
Keith: Howard Stern has a channel at SiriusXM. But you’re the first talent I’m aware of with an entire, 24/7 format wrapped around him or herself. Greg-FM differs from the daypart-driven “The Greg Beharrell Show.” So explain exactly what Greg-FM is for readers who may not know.
Greg: GREG FM is perfctionist radio. At its best, GREG FM is a ratings powerhouse, at its worst, a ratings power bachelor apartment, no en suite laundry. The best part is that GREG FM is powered by my creativity which is best described as creative. I’d like to quell the fears for anyone on the fence, especially if there are gothic pickets, GREG FM is a home run.
** = unintentional fan interference style*
The Honest Truth
Keith: You have very strong opinions on where radio programming is today and what needs to change. If made President of Radio tomorrow, what would be the first two or three things you’d focus on?
Greg: We should always be trying to find a unique approach, except in the case of the word unique which needs to remain as such due to the cost of reprinting dictionaries. Radio needs to fix some things: let talent find their voice, or voices, radio jocks often hear many; Hot AC? It’s 2026, where is great personality AC?; and, finally, how do you think Top 40 makes song number 41 feel?
Canadian Origins
Keith: Now, take us back to the beginning. You started your radio career in Canada.
Greg: I received my start in radio the old fashioned way, if a program director drinks enough of them, they’ll be more open to putting you on the radio. My show still airs in 23 Canadian markets; ultimately, I’d like to be to Canadian radio as red tuques are to Bonhomme.
The Sales Department
Keith: You’re one of the few talent who actively tries to help drive revenue. I remember the unsolicited spec spots and sales ideas you constantly pushed out when we worked together. Revenue remains radio’s biggest challenge. So, what’s your advice for sales teams and talent to help turn that trend?
Greg: We should become boutique creative houses that clients can utilize to stand out because different gets noticed, a lesson radio still hasn’t learned from Noxzema girls.
The Importance of Uniqueness
Keith: You often talk about the importance of uniqueness in a time when sameness seems to be everywhere. But being unique is harder than it sounds. How would you coach talent to find their unique voice?
Greg: Spend time with talent you trust and pitch them ideas with writer’s room rules: no hurt feelings, constructive dialogue, and strive for the sui generis. And even if one of the talents decides to use latin phraseology in an attempt to sound intelligent, don’t dismiss their approach outright (yet).
Comedy vs. Comedy
Keith: Research shows “funny” is the most important trait a radio show can have. But there’s a difference between naturally funny and creating funny. Your show falls more in the latter — crafted, not accidental. How do you approach content creation? What’s your process for deciding subject matter, balance, and what’s good enough to air?
Greg:I approach every piece of content with the same questions, “if I heard this on the radio, would it make me smile?”, “well, would it?”, “you’re taking too long to think about this, are you some kind of idiot?”, “do you realize that this is why you have no close friends?”, “okay, well, I’m just gonna do my own thing because waiting for you to decide is boring so let me know when you’ve figured out if it would make you smile, ok?”
Mean or Blue
Keith: You’re meticulous about humor appeal — always making sure it’s never too blue, never punching down, never mean. This holds true even at rock brands where “blue” is common. When and why did this become a core part of your vision?
Greg: I think there is a place for all sorts of comedy, but I really want folks from all walks of life to listen and enjoy my content; so when it comes to humor, I stay away from blue, in spite of being a winter.
AI + Automation
Keith: AI is changing everything — content creation, prep, imaging, even voice work. Yet you’re a talent who could actually thrive in an AI-heavy future. How do you see AI impacting talent, syndication, and creativity over the next five years?
Greg:I feel like when it comes to talent and content the majority of listeners would treasure knowing that a human is behind what they hear. AI will have its place in mundane tasks and that will free creatives to drive toward innovation, but AI won’t be the medium, do we really want to hand control over to something that would cost $500 on Wheel?
The Blank Slate
Keith: Last question — blank slate — say anything you want to the radio industry. What do you want them to hear?
Greg: Did you call the format AAA so it’d be first in the phonebook?
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.
Approaching The Summit is a series of special interviews created in partnership with Point to Point Marketing featuring speakers at the upcoming 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit in New York City. Follow along with this series as prominent names surrounding the event June 30-July 2 share their insights and expectations for what’s to come in the big apple. The Summit takes place at the SVA Theatre on West 23rd Street. For tickets and hotel room reservations, click here or visit the Summit section at the top of the website.
Damon Amendolara is the host of The D.A. Show with Babchik on Mad Dog Sports Radio. Previously, Amendolara previously served as the lead host of the morning show on the CBS Sports Radio. Prior to CBS, he hosted shows on local stations in Boston, Miami, Kansas City and Fort Myers, FL. He also served as the sideline reporter for Major League Soccer telecasts of the New England Revolution and he has been a contributor to the NFL Network, MLB Network, NFL Films, SNY and NBC Sports Boston.
Amendolara is scheduled to be speaking at the event next week. He sat down with Barrett Media from his office in New York City, NY.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
John Mamola: What are you looking forward to the most in attending the Barrett Media Audio Summit this year?
Damon Amendolara: The industry changes so dramatically every single day. If you miss a summit or an annual gathering of like-minded people, talented people that are always considering the industry, its evolution, or the future. You feel like you’ve missed way more than a year.
If you miss a year, it feels like you missed five years. So much changes at such a rapid rate. Technology is so dramatic, AI and how it’s used. It’s a daily process that keeping up with everybody once a year is kind of the minimum.
I just find it so enlightening and encouraging to just get around people that are considering the same things I’m doing. The opportunity to pick their brains, but specifically not to take too much time off doing it.
Every year is kind of the minimum check-in point about all these really important benchmarks that are happening in the industry.
John Mamola: From a talent perspective, how would you explain the value that the summit provides to someone who may be in attendance for the first time?
Damon Amendolara: You’re in the room. When I was just graduating college, the dream was to get behind a microphone and have somebody employ and pay you for it. So, I just drove to the baseball winter meetings in Boston with a friend of mine who also wanted to become a broadcaster. We just wanted to be in the room.
It was just about shaking a hand, making a connection, getting a business card. Just so the next time you emailed or called them, at least you had met them in person. So, that you were in the room with some familiarity.
Being in the room of really powerful executives and really smart people helps elevate your understanding of the industry. What’s expected. How other people work, and how to handle yourself. It kind of is all those things.
Then when you hear people speak and you watch the panels, it gives you a broader sense of what the job entails. It gives you a broader sense of what bosses look for. It’s one thing to be somebody who’s well read and well researched. You can make a lot of calls, or do a lot of viewing on YouTube.
But it is different when you’re in the room soaking in what people have done for many years. How they think. How they approach it, and how they feel. Networking is everything. Being in those rooms is such an important piece of the networking part of it.
John Mamola: Is there a specific issue that you’re most looking forward to at the summit?
Damon Amendolara: It’s AI, because some people are so embracing of it, which I am. Then some people are so fearful of it, because it’s like the impending doom. I’m really interested, because I think there’s validity on both sides.
I would really like to hear people’s perspective on it, because it feels like this is the thing that’s hanging over the heads of so many creators, creative types, and so many technological industries. That part of it is to me super exciting just to hear what people’s perspective on it. Just because it could be so dramatically different. It’s never going to be one size fits all.
Then the natural drumbeat of the last five to seven years, or maybe even longer. Certainly during the Barrett Media Audio Summit era, but the technological advances of distribution of audio. Is it Podcast, streaming, visual? Could it be YouTube, Spotify, on television, on a smart TV, your phone? Is it in a car?
I love that, because that’s not just philosophy. That is true people figuring out in real time how the job works. I always find that fascinating. There’s high-level people that are dealing with this every single day, and they’re bringing that knowledge and intellect to all of us.
John Mamola: You’ve had the opportunity to speak at the summit previous. Do you have a specific approach when you walk into being a part of a panel at the event?
Damon Amendolara: It’s interesting balance. By nature, I like to command a microphone and speak extemporaneously. I host a radio show. So, I like speaking long-winded and explaining things in detail. Yet you’re around really talented people that all feel the same way, but it’s a limited time. So, you can’t kind of fill up the room too much.
You have to understand your timing. It’s got to move quicker, and you got to give space for other people. It’s a tough thing, because I could be asked a question about the NBA and of course I have a thought.
But I’m most passionate about the things that are talked about at the Barrett Media Audio Summit. Those are the things I really consider every day that are really my life. Forget three hours, like I could do three days talking about all the nuances of the industry. It makes it tough, because I’m so excited to talk about everything. But I know I can’t just overwhelm the conversation with the panel. I have to reel it in a little bit as well.
John Mamola: This will be the first year where Barrett Media has all three industries represented at the summit. Is your plan to tap into anything within the other two days of the summit for nuggets that could apply to your day-to-day?
Damon Amendolara: Absolutely. If I can make my way over there for the other two days, I want to certainly do so.
It’s really valuable to find perspectives from outside our silos and see how the approaches are. Sometimes they don’t fit. Sometimes it’s not relevant to my daily considerations, but sometimes it’s really cool to see how a different part of the industry views it.
I always found, when I was in local radio, talking to the music people was so valuable because they looked at clocks differently. They looked at hooks differently. They use music where we use talk, just in terms of content itself. It was so interesting how they branded what their promos sounded like.
How they did live events, and how they wove in celebrity interviews.
When you’re in the sports media world, especially sports radio, it oftentimes sounds the same. There’s a little nuance here, there’s a little gray area here. People are unique and creative, and there’s personal flourishes.
But you tune into sports radio, it’s like you kind of know how everything goes. It’s really cool to hear somebody that’s outside of your purview that looks at this and says, “Oh, you do it that way. Well, that’s interesting. This is kind of how we do it.”
Maybe there’s things that you can take, or there’s things that you just never consider from that perspective. It’s putting on somebody else’s eyeglasses. You’re just seeing it from a totally different perspective. I really dig that. The best programmers are ones that can jump between those worlds.
So, as a talent, I’d love to have some of that versatility to understand all the different worlds as well.
John Mamola: You mentioned AI and audio distribution. However, what’s the one opportunity or challenge that you hope is part of the discussion during the summit this year?
Damon Amendolara: Distribution is the $10 million question that it feels like every executive, host, board op in the industry is hanging on. In 10 years, how are the things that we produce consumed?
I certainly have some thoughts, but I get asked the question a lot. I don’t have anything cement or solidified. It’s more of just a theory. I want to hear the people that are employed to do this address that. This is what 2026 looks like. What 2031 looks like, and what 2037 looks like.
I want to hear the vision on how people are considering this, because it’s all of our future. But it’s also the present.
When I get around a room of people, I listen first and to talk second. That’s the coolest thing about the summit. I get to listen a lot to people that are doing the things that I think about, but I’m not actually doing. There’s people working on this every single day at the highest level, and that’s what’s really cool.
There’s a lot of summits out there, and conventions. Rarely do you get the very highest level of thinker, executive, decision maker, or power broker all in the same room with you.
Damon Amendolara (Canva | Barrett Media)
Purchase your tickets to the 2026 BSM Summit here, and for more information BarrettMedia.com
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We sit 10 days out from The Barrett Media Summit in New York City. Jason Barrett and his team have developed perhaps the most impressive speaker lineup at one seminar — ever. The price of admission is small when measured against the robust panel of speakers you can hear and meet. Buzz Knight highlighted a historic first — Fred Jacobs, Lee Abrams, and Mike McVay will appear on the same panel, hosted by Buzz.
This piece — however — is not about The Summit. Instead, it is about what to do prior to, during, and after the seminar. These are tips to help you maximize your time on the ground in New York.
Make the Most of Every Connection
Early last year, we wrote about how to prepare when arriving at a seminar. Specifically, we focused on the Country Radio Seminar — the Super Bowl of gatherings for Country Music programmers. Here is a reminder: seminars are mostly about connections — networking.
Networking at seminars is a crucial skill. It enhances your professional growth just as much — if not more — as any session you will attend. Moreover, effective networking involves genuine engagement and fostering meaningful connections. Networking specialist Judy Robinett, author of How to Be a Power Connector, emphasizes the importance of a strategic networking plan. Valuable tips from Robinett include:
Research attendees prior to the event
Set clear on-the-ground objectives
Follow up promptly after the event
Whether you attend CRS, the NAB Convention, or the final Conclave this fall, keep this in mind. Success won’t be determined by how many sessions you attend. It will be determined, instead, by the quality of the relationships you build.
You will invest thousands of dollars traveling to and from The Barrett Media Summit. Therefore, the most successful attendees approach networking with purpose, curiosity, and authenticity.
Be Memorable
Attendees often remove their nametag from the lanyard and clip it near their waist. It is a comfortable look, but nobody will read it. Instead, try placing your nametag on your right chest pocket. When you extend your hand for the handshake, the other person’s eyes naturally follow your arm directly to your name. It is a small detail with a big impact.
Be Present
The greatest compliment you can give someone is your full attention. Keep the conversation focused on open-ended questions that encourage growth. Also, ask your new connection about their current opportunities — and challenges. Be a connector by asking — “Is there someone here I can introduce you to?” In fact, many attendees struggle with introductions and networking. If you can help create meaningful connections, you will become memorable long after the conference ends.
Be Engaging
Put away your phone, only checking it in private. Nothing kills a conversation faster than someone constantly checking their phone. Also, maintain eye contact throughout the discussion. Looking over someone’s shoulder while they are speaking sends a clear message. It signals you are searching for someone more important. Instead, make your new connection feel like this is the most important conversation in the room.
Be Curious
Curiosity creates connections. Ask about the health of their business — what’s working — what’s not. Then, do a deeper dive. Ask about their journey — how they got into radio, their first job, their mentors. People rarely remember exactly what you said. They remember, instead, how interested you were in them.
Be Strategic
Before attending The Barrett Media Summit, establish clear goals. Ask yourself — “How many meaningful new contacts do I want to make?” — “Who are the specific people I would like to meet?” — “What ideas am I hoping to bring home?” The best networkers don’t wander — they work with intention.
Quick Follow-Up
The Barrett Media Summit isn’t over when you head to LaGuardia. Within a day or two of returning home, send a brief follow-up email or LinkedIn message to new connections. Mention something specific from your conversation to help them remember you. Additionally, take notes after your conversations if needed. Do not launch into a sales pitch — relationships come before transactions. The most overlooked tool today is the handwritten thank-you note. Although we are dominated by text messages and emails, a thoughtful handwritten note still stands out.
Ironically, many radio professionals struggle with networking. They are comfortable behind a mic, but face-to-face networking requires a different skill set. That means initiating conversations, maintaining eye contact, and managing small talk. Introverts and sensitive personalities find that large conferences can be especially draining. Therefore, setting a strategic and tactical plan is important.
Building Lasting Relationships
Industry gatherings are fewer today, and professional relationships are now more valuable. The true return on your Barrett Media Summit investment is found in the people you meet.
These tips also extend to CRS, your state broadcaster’s convention, and local chamber events. Strong careers are built on strong connections. Make your plan, be present, and follow up. Remember that every conversation at The Barrett Media Summit has the potential to become a lasting professional relationship.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Spotify has a new ticketing feature called Reserved, and on the surface, it sounds like a very modern idea. The platform identifies an artist’s most dedicated fans, holds two tickets for them, and gives those fans a window to buy before the general public gets access. Eligibility is based on signals like streams, saves, shares, and location. It launches in the U.S. with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and it is available to eligible Spotify Premium subscribers.
But anyone who spent time inside a radio station knows exactly what this is — this is “win them before you can buy them.” It is the ticket window before the ticket window, the secret presale, the listener club, the weekend where the phones lit up because the station had tickets nobody else could get yet. In other words, this is the old promotions department, rebuilt with data, algorithms, push notifications, and a considerably cleaner user interface.
Radio Did This First
Spotify did not create the idea of rewarding superfans. Radio did that for decades — just with fewer dashboards and a lot more duct tape. Back in the day, if a major tour was coming to town, the radio station was often the first place fans heard about it. The jock teased it on-air, the promo department built a weekend around it, and the phones opened at the top of the hour. Maybe the 10th caller won. Maybe the station gave away tickets before they went on sale, or the winner scored upgraded seats, backstage passes, or a flyaway.
The mechanics were different, but the emotional hook was identical. You listen more. You get closer. That was the compact radio had with its audience — the station was not just a jukebox. It was the access point, the place that could get you into the show, behind the rope, or closer to the artist than you could get on your own.
Passion vs. Receipts
Spotify’s Reserved is built on that same core concept. However, the difference is that Spotify does not need a listener to call in at the right second, because it already knows who has been listening. It knows who streams the artist, who saves the songs, who shares them, and where that listener lives. Radio had passion. Spotify has receipts.
That is the part that should get the radio industry’s attention. For years, radio’s promotional strength was built around scarcity, access, and community. If you wanted to see the biggest artist in town, the local station had a lane. And wanted the best seats, the morning show might have them. If you wanted the full artist experience, the station was typically your way in.
But somewhere along the way, some of that muscle weakened. Part of it was budget, part of it was consolidation, and part of it was the slow death of the big local promotions department. On top of that, part of it was radio becoming too comfortable with generic contesting — the same caller number, the same keyword, the same national contest, the same prize structure, repeated until it no longer felt special.
Digital Platforms Were Watching
Meanwhile, digital platforms watched what worked. They observed how fans respond to exclusivity, how people behave when they feel seen, and specifically, the power of a platform saying, “We know you care more than the casual fan, so you get access first.”
That is not just a ticketing strategy — that is a loyalty strategy. Reserved by Spotify is smart because it turns listening behavior into status, essentially telling the fan that their engagement matters. It gives Premium subscribers another reason to stay inside the Spotify ecosystem, and it also gives artists and promoters a more direct path to fans who are most likely to buy tickets, show up, and care. Radio used to own that relationship locally.
The Pipeline Radio Lost
That is precisely why this should not be dismissed as just another Spotify feature. It is, instead, another reminder that digital media keeps repackaging the best parts of radio and scaling them with data. Personalized playlists are not far removed from a great music director understanding a market. Similarly, Spotify’s editorial video push is not far removed from a jock introducing a song with context. And now Reserved is not far removed from a station giving away tickets before the general public could buy them.
The key difference is that Spotify has connected the entire promotional loop. The listener hears the artist, engages with the artist, receives the ticket offer, and completes the purchase — a clean pipeline from discovery to commerce. Radio still has pieces of that pipeline, including local credibility, personalities, reach, and the ability to make a concert feel like a genuine event in a market. Still, the industry has to remember that access is content, promotions are content, and being the place fans turn when something big is happening is content. Spotify clearly understands that.
The Lesson Is Simple
The lesson for radio is not to complain that digital companies are copying the old playbook. Instead, the lesson is to recognize that the old playbook still works — it just needs to be rebuilt for the way fans actually behave now. The phones may not ring like they used to. The prize closet may not look the same. The “win them before you can buy them” weekend promotion may not be the center of the universe anymore.
But the human desire underneath it has not changed at all. Fans still want to feel like insiders. They still want access. They still want to believe their loyalty counts for something. Radio knew that first. Spotify just found a new way to prove 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.
Are you screaming for significance or living in a narcissistic snow globe? In the quiet of your heart, you have pursued this career because of a desire to be important. I did the same thing. Most of us in news/talk radio are immensely intelligent. We could have chosen other pursuits. Perhaps there is a certain drive in our DNA that has created a hole that can only be filled by recognition. How can you turn this primal drive into something that makes the difference you aspire to?
In a society that stresses braggadocio, many radio people can be quiet when not performing. We have unique experiences that most people never get the chance to observe. Have you ever had this happen? I was with some people that are not in our business and realized that sharing a story was looked upon as a fish tale.
These moments with quasi-famous people or very big celebrities are a part of our existence. We live very unusual lives. You may have felt that way from time to time.
Why Anecdotes Matter
Early in my radio career, the station’s program director and consultant expressed to me that I didn’t have a lot of real-life experiences to share. I took that observation quite literally and put myself in positions to have those experiences. I never went too crazy. Shockingly, I am a responsible human being. So, I was not out all night doing crazy stuff. I have never been on a weeklong bender. I’ve never woken up in a different city curious about where I was and wondering what day it was.
But I have spent time with interesting people who have done amazing things with their lives. I have built a catalogue of anecdotes. You probably have many of these same scenarios. I learned that radio people have many of these qualities. Yet, while many of us have done things that most people never get a chance to do, we don’t have the same perks that famous people often get.
What is interesting is that these anecdotes are essential for our shows. Sharing a story about being backstage at a concert or having a beer with a famous person is kind of important on the air. We are in show business. We are considered celebrities. You may not live in a luxury high-rise or a 6,000-square-foot home in the primo suburb of your community, but your audience likely has that impression of you. Even though you are not in the billionaire class, people automatically think that you have more assets than you likely do.
Ratings, Revenue, and What Really Matters
Social media has millions of people bragging about the lives they lead. Most of these people have very few followers, but their friends often feed their narcissistic impulses. I bet you have had a conversation with someone relaying to you their viral post on Instagram. You end up looking at that post because you are curious about what they did and how big it was. You find out that the viral online moment had less than 10 likes. Significance for many is based on comments, likes and shares.
In news/talk radio, we are measured by revenue and ratings. Our feedback is not necessarily immediate. Most people get their monthly report from Nielsen. While many hosts will claim that they do not live and die by the ratings… they do… If a host doesn’t care about how they are doing in the ratings, they probably shouldn’t be hosting a show. Then there is the revenue component. This is sometimes a big mystery.
If you work for a radio station run by one of the big companies, they are watching your show’s revenue and expenses carefully. A bean counter at the corporate headquarters is not interested in how many events you speak at every year. They are looking at revenue and ratings. If no one is listening to your show, the revenue will likely dry up. Listeners purchasing things at clients is the game that we play.
If your show is not meeting the company’s metrics for success, you are gone. It is as simple as that. For your company, your significance is about what you are producing.
The Significance You Create
We have seen the revenue statements from publicly traded companies in our industry. Your station’s sales department needs your help. Radio is doing what it has done for over 100 years. It produces results for businesses.
Considering the market segmentation with more alternatives for consumers’ attention than ever before, radio delivers. Your radio station or cluster has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and more for non-profits. Your station has collected food and clothing for people who have been personally devastated by tornadoes, flooding, and hurricanes.
What we do is significant. In news/talk radio, we reflect our listeners’ hopes, aspirations, and anger. News/talk radio is the tip of the spear for involvement. We create moments that are unforgettable for our listeners. I have a producer who was awed by a listener who told him that he loved this one thing that he said on the morning show. The producer couldn’t remember what he said, and I created a teachable moment. I explained that he will receive notes or meet people on the street 30 years from now that will have been personally impacted by what you said.
When this happens to you, always thank that listener. Don’t downplay what you said or minimize it by saying that you didn’t remember saying it. Lean into how important that moment was for one person driving in their car.
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.
“Working remotely” wasn’t common lexicon for most of us prior to the pandemic in March 2020. Ironically, nothing has transformed the global workplace more over the past six years. It has truly been a fascinating social metamorphosis, and it wasn’t a slow transition. Instead, it was a dramatic shift that appeared almost overnight. It was proof positive that necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention.
For broadcasters, companies had to instantly create in-home studios for talent and figure out ways for sellers to hit their numbers while unable to hit the streets. The industry survived due to grit, resilience, and determination.
Since the end of the pandemic, many companies have attempted to bring employees back to the office. You may have even heard about lawsuits filed and settled over efforts to force employees back into the workplace. Today, remote and hybrid opportunities remain important, particularly among Millennial and Gen Z workers.
The question now is how companies can balance their needs with employee expectations. I have been a manager for companies willing to make compromises in this area, and for others that simply won’t consider remote employment. There’s a case to be made for both sides, but let’s cut to the chase. As difficult as it is today to find qualified candidates, compromise may be the only option.
Benefits To Remote Work
For non-broadcasters, remote work offers advantages that don’t necessarily apply to the broadcast and media industry. Other businesses recruit talent from a larger geographic area, often finding highly qualified candidates who can’t, or won’t, consider relocating. They may also benefit from lower overhead costs, including office space, utilities, and facilities. Many companies tout greater employee satisfaction and lower turnover among workers who enjoy remote flexibility.
But what about broadcasters?
In truth, most of us have offered remote work opportunities for more self-serving reasons. We started doing it to reduce staffing and operating expenses. As an industry, remote work began long before the pandemic when companies started tracking talent from out of market and eliminating full-time personalities. Rather than paying talent full-time salaries and requiring them to live in the market, countless companies began paying far less to track daily shows.
Whether this was a positive model for the future of radio is a debate for another column, but it does prove that remote work in our industry can succeed.
Challenges Of Remote Work
However, it is not without challenges. My recent column discussed the need for positive values and a strong company culture. How, then, can any manager build and maintain that culture while fostering collaboration when employees are not in the same building? We also must consider the growth and success of younger employees, who traditionally learn through observation and in-person mentoring.
When employees work alone each day, communication can become fragmented. I worry about reduced innovation and collaboration when teams are not physically together. As a result, many organizations have shifted to hybrid models that combine flexibility with essential face-to-face interaction.
The impact on both companies and employees has been significant. Remote work offers workers greater control over their schedules and better work-life balance. Eliminating lengthy commutes in larger cities saves time, money, and frustration. It also allows for better management of family responsibilities and obligations.
Among Millennial and Gen Z candidates, flexibility has become a major factor when evaluating job opportunities. These workers entered the workforce during a period of rapid technological advancement and are most comfortable using digital communication platforms such as Teams, Zoom, and Slack. Many view remote work as an expectation rather than a perk.
Recruiting trends now show that younger candidates prioritize remote flexibility along with salary, benefits, and career advancement opportunities. Some even accept lower pay in exchange for the ability to work remotely. For employers seeking top talent, hard-line return-to-office policies can significantly reduce the candidate pool.
At the same time, younger workers face challenges when operating fully remotely. Building professional networks, developing relationships, and learning company dynamics are often more difficult. Many eventually feel isolated and desire more structured mentorship opportunities.
Evolving For The Time
The future will be built on compromise and flexibility rather than absolute, rigid policies. While some jobs require a physical presence, many knowledge-based positions can be performed effectively from virtually anywhere. Successful employers will focus less on where employees work and more on outcomes, accountability, and engagement.
Remote work is now a permanent part of our employment landscape. Those who adapt to evolving expectations while maintaining a strong culture and clear performance standards will attract, retain, and develop the workforce of the future.
Few industries have experienced the complexities of remote work more than broadcast media. Radio and TV stations have traditionally relied on collaborative, in-person environments where programming, sales, promotions, engineering, and on-air talent work closely together to create local content and respond quickly to breaking events. Today, sales teams routinely conduct client meetings virtually, and content creators produce material from nearly anywhere.
As the industry evolves, the most successful broadcasters may be those who embrace flexibility where possible while preserving the elements that make local media unique. Hybrid work arrangements, flexible scheduling, and outcome-based management may offer a middle ground that satisfies both employee expectations and operational realities.
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 New York Timespaid $550 million for The Athletic in 2022. Now, it may be the smartest acquisition the Times has made in years.
What We Know: According to an interview with Axios Live, Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien says The Athletic has grown from roughly one million subscribers at acquisition to many millions today. That growth makes it the fastest-expanding vertical across the entire New York Times portfolio. That’s notable given the Times also operates high-performing products like its games division, Wirecutter, and cooking. The Times shuttered its traditional sports department just one year after the purchase, replacing that content with Athletic reporting.
What They Said: New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien: “In The Athletic, when we acquired it four-and-a-half years ago, it was largely behind a paywall; it had about a million subscribers. That was about as many readers as they had. The Athletic has the fastest-growing audience on The New York Times. It’s many millions more than that today.”
What Remains Unclear: The exact subscriber count is unknown either by the NY Times or The Athletic. Additionally, not everyone views the Times’ influence as a positive. Critics argue that The Athletic’s editorial shift — from local beat coverage to national storytelling — has diluted what made the publication unique.
What It Means: Having the backing of the country’s most read digital newspaper, success for The Athletic was no secret. This summer, the strategy beyond subscriptions. The publication dropped its paywall for World Cup coverage, offering free access through the July 19 Final. That move signals an effort to broaden its audience further. Whether casual readers eventually convert to paying subscribers will be the real test.
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.
