CBS will air a one-hour primetime special this Friday evening, the night before UFC 329. The broadcast blends live sports coverage with original storytelling.
What We Know: This Is UFC: McGregor vs. Hollowayairs Friday, July 10 at 9 p.m. ET, live/delayed PT. The special features live weigh-ins, plus a sit-down between Nate Burleson and Conor McGregor. Dana White also appears in additional interview segments. UFC 329 then streams exclusively on Paramount+ Saturday, July 11, under the promotion’s existing rights agreement with the platform. This is the first time that CBS has aired a pre-event special on the network.
What Remains Unclear: CBS has not announced if it will carry any of the action during Saturday’s night’s card. The event currently is only streaming live on Paramount+. However, the network has simulcast two-hour blocks in certain instances since their media rights agreement began in January.
What It Means: There’s any number of ways to look at this concept by CBS. With the sports viewing audience glued to World Cup soccer, the UFC 329 return of Connor McGregor has had little shine. As an effort to cross promote the event, CBS is dipping into it’s primetime lineup on Friday night to air the one-hour special. The other way to look at this is could CBS/Paramount be sinking too many assets into the UFC for promotion. By airing the special, the event will likely take on a very different tone than the customary weigh ins at UFC events. Either way, the promotion gains added exposure for a rematch 13 years in the making. UFC 329 also features a lightweight contenders’ bout with No. 5 ranked Benoit Saint Denis vs. No. 6 Paddy Pimblett. If successful, similar crossover specials may follow future marquee UFC events.
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David Haugh didn’t hold back Monday. The 104.3 The Score host shared his disappointment in FOX Sports’ handling of Saturday’s fog delay between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.
What We Know: Fog delayed Saturday’s Cubs-Cardinals broadcast on FOX Sports. In the sixth inning, a game that started late due to rain was again paused when a blanket of fog rolled into the stadium. Despite an effort to play on, the players’ complaints eventually led to a weather delay of roughly 15 minutes. Haugh shared his recollections of how FOX Sports play-by-play announcer Joe Davis acknowledged the network lacked enough content to fill an 15-minute gap. Consequently, the broadcast retreated to studio coverage instead of adapting live. Haugh discussed the moment extensively on Monday’s Mully & Haugh program.
David Haugh believed FOX Sports wasn’t prepared for a fog delay during Saturday’s Chicago Cubs / St. Louis Cardinals broadcast: “Fox was not ready for this. Fox was, in real time, very disappointing to me… They had 18 minutes before the game was going to resume, and Joe Davis talked about not having 18 minutes worth of content. So, we’re going to go back to the studio, we’re going to take a break, because we don’t know what to do. Okay, essentially telling America we’re unprepared. Bad idea.”
David Haugh says FOX Sports was disappointing in it’s approach to a weather delay: “I thought it was very disappointing the way they handled the entire impromptu nature of the game. They were uncomfortable turning it into more of a talk show type back and forth with John Smoltz and Ken Rosenthal. I didn’t think they handled that that well at all… I just feel like that Fox seemed some woefully unprepared. Yeah, there were elements he don’t expect. But there was a novelty to it. They kept on showing the crowd shots were entertaining, at least. But they didn’t feel comfortable narrating. It was weird.”
What Remains Unclear: FOX Sports has not discussed the matter on its approach to the weather delay in Chicago.
What It Means: Ultimately, Haugh’s comments highlight a broader challenge for live sports broadcasts: adapting when scripted content runs dry. Weather delays require flexibility, and improvisation becomes essential. The fog delay created a legitimate reason to believe producers made the call in haste. In addition, little assets were likely even available. Davis, who also serves as the TV voice for the Dodgers, likely was leaning on production staff to make the judgement call. However, the critique serves as a reminder that broadcasters must be ready for everything. No matter if on radio or television.
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Political Advertising has long been a boon to media entities. That is clearly on display in 2026, according to AdImpact.
What We Know: There are dozens of important races around the nation that are altering the projections from AdImpact.
What the Numbers Show: The 2026 cycle has generated $4.43 billion as of June 30th. That eclipses the $3.17 billion spent by the same date during the 2022 cycle. $449.7 million alone was spent in June, according to AdImpact. New York was a spending hotspot, with $41.7 million in political advertising spent. Michigan’s primary election doesn’t take place until August 4th. $40.1 million aired last month, trailing only New York. AdImpact data also shows that the Ohio gubernatorial election is expected to be an expensive race. It has already generated nearly $36 million. That figure is double what was spent in the entire 2022 cycle for the race.
In total, AdImpact forecasts $11.6 billion to be spent during the 2026 cycle. That outpaces the $11.2 billion spent during the 2024 cycle. AM/FM radio is projected to receive $273 million from that total.
What Remains Unclear: Which races will ultimately prove to be the most expensive. Several key races in Michigan, New York, and Ohio have helped increase the total. However, previous races in California also helped grow the overall spending exponentially.
What It Means: The figures projected by AdImpact are staggering. The 2024 election cycle was continuously labeled “unprecedented” for its spending levels. So for the midterm cycle to surpass those record levels is eye-opening. It also shows how important these races are throughout the country, for the spending to increase 40% compared to the last midterm cycle.
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Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan is stepping away from mornings at Audacy Hip Hop/R&B V103 WVEE Atlanta. His departure follows a recent arrest and a growing legal situation involving his personal life.
What We Know: Morgan was arrested last month on charges of aggravated battery, battery, and third-degree cruelty to children. His wife, Alicia Brown, told police he shoved her into an office door during an argument at their home. Additionally, his co-host Francesca Amiker filed a defamation suit against Brown last week. Amiker alleged Brown falsely accused her of an affair with Morgan and linked her to the abuse charges.
What They Said: In a social media post, Morgan addressed the situation directly. He wrote, “For as long as I’ve been in this industry, my focus has always been to keep the spotlight on the culture and the incredible people I get to interview. But right now, my personal life is in the public eye and has become the subject of overwhelming speculation and misinformation. Through all of this, what hurts the most is being away from my son. Nothing is more important to me than being a great father. So I’ve decided to step away from the mic for a while to focus on my family and give my legal team the room they need. As I previously said, I unequivocally deny every allegation, and I am looking forward to clearing my name.”
What Remains Unclear: No official statement from Audacy or WVEE has addressed the leave publicly. It is also unclear how long Morgan’s absence will last or who will fill his morning slot.
What It Means: Big Tigger has been a fixture at WVEE since 2013, moving to mornings in July 2020. Beyond radio, he serves as PA announcer for the Atlanta Hawks and DJ/Music Director for the Atlanta Falcons’ tailgate events. His absence leaves a significant void at one of Atlanta’s most prominent urban stations.
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Nielsen is reportedly getting set to roll out another significant change to its media measurement. This time, the focus is co-viewing, and it could reshape sports audience figures once again.
What We Know: According to Front Office Sports, co-viewing measurement could be in used as early as September. This marks Nielsen’s third major measurement shift in under two years, following last year’s out-of-home expansion and September 2025’s Big Data + Panel rollout. The new system targets co-viewing, or group viewing in the same room. Earlier this year, Nielsen piloted the methodology across seven major events: Super Bowl LX, the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the NBA All-Star Game, the Daytona 500, the Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Game, and the State of the Union. Across those events, co-viewing added 4.19% to total viewership, according to Nielsen.
What They Said: Nielsen head of global sports Seth Ladetsky (via Front Office Sports): “This is obviously complex stuff, but our goal is still very simple. We want to be as accurate as possible, and this is the next iteration of Big Data.”
What Remains Unclear: Nielsen hasn’t confirmed an exact date of the rollout.
What It Means: If history is any guide, co-viewing’s addition will push live sports audiences higher still. As a result, comparing today’s numbers to pre-pandemic figures grows increasingly difficult with each new add on with measurement. Networks and advertisers will need to recalibrate expectations yet again. Ultimately, Nielsen’s continued pursuit of undercounted viewers keeps redefining what “big” audiences actually look like.
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Versant continues to add to its expansive golf portfolio. The media company, which owns Golf Channel, will acquire golf technology firm Full Swing for $530 million in cash.
What We Know: Versant is buying Full Swing from Bruin Capital and a group of minority investors. All will be subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The deal strengthens Versant’s Golf vertical, which includes Golf Channel, GolfPass and GolfNow. In May, Versant reported platforms business revenue, which includes GolfNow, rose 9.5% to $192 million. Full Swing brings advanced golf simulators, tracking software and analytics into that portfolio.
What They Said: Versant CEO Mark Lazarus: “Full Swing is exactly the kind of strategic platform that reflects how we are building Versant: investing in our core markets, extending the reach of our iconic brands and creating new ways to serve passionate audiences.”
Full Swing CEO Ryan Dotters: “Joining Versant gives us the scale and distribution to bring our technology to even more golfers, athletes and fans.”
What Remains Unclear: Versant hasn’t detailed how Full Swing’s simulator entertainment business will fit alongside its existing golf software offerings like GolfNow. It’s also unclear whether more golf-adjacent acquisitions could follow.
What It Means: The acquisition reinforces Golf as Versant’s blueprint vertical, one CEO Mark Lazarus has called a model for the rest of the company. It also continues a broader strategy of tucking acquisitions into existing verticals. Ultimately, the deal pushes Versant closer to its goal of rebalancing revenue toward digital and subscription businesses.
Versant has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire @FullSwingGolf, adding an interactive sports technology platform across golf, baseball and multi-sport experiences.
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Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former attorney, is adding a new media endeavor to his plate. He’s joining 77 WABC in New York.
What We Know: Michael Cohen joins 77 WABC after his past podcast with The MeidasTouch Network ended earlier this year. That relationship ended after comments he made about feeling pressured to testify against Trump. Beginning on Sunday, July 12th, Cohen will host When You Know… You Know at 5 PM ET. Cohen will also host a weekly podcast using similar branding. Those new episodes will be released on Tuesdays.
What They Said: “Several radio and television stations approached me about doing a show. I chose WABC Radio because I wanted a media partner that isn’t afraid to let me be me. A media partner that welcomes different viewpoints and isn’t afraid of tough conversations. John has created that kind of environment at WABC Radio, and it’s the only place where I have the freedom to tell people what I know… and what they don’t know.” -Michael Cohen
“Michael has lived through events most people only read about. I’m interested to see what listeners think as the layers beneath the headlines unfold, and reality is exposed.” -Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis
What Remains Unclear: If Cohen’s show will feature any guests or interview segments, or if he’ll continually helm the program solo. It is also unclear if there will be any encore presentations of his program throughout the 77 WABC weekend lineup.
What It Means: 77 WABC has been unafraid to partner with figures from each side of the political aisle. It has also never worried about how controversial the figures are. Michael Cohen certainly fits the controversial billing from his time working for and against President Trump. His appointment is likely to draw attention to the station’s weekend lineup.
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Beasley has rebranded Top 40 WHHD as Party 98.3 in Augusta, GA. The station officially launched Friday, July 3 at 5pm under the new identity “The #1 Hit Music Station.”
What We Know: The rebrand followed two days of stunting with non-stop Taylor Swift hits, timed to her Friday wedding. Beasley launched the new brand with a Commercial-Free Launch Weekend. The promotion gave listeners uninterrupted access to the biggest hits. Party 98.3’s first major promotion, “Free Gas Friday,” arrives this Friday, July 10, offering listeners a chance to win free fuel.
What They Said: Beasley Chief Content Officer Justin Chase called the move a deliberate effort to build energy beyond the radio dial. “Party 98.3 is all about creating an exciting, energetic brand that connects with today’s listeners both on-air and beyond the radio dial,” Chase said. PD Adam Star added that great stations earn their place in the community. “Party 98.3 was built to reflect the energy and spirit of the Central Savannah River Area,” Star said.
What Remains Unclear: The station has not announced specific programming changes beyond the rebrand. It is also unclear whether additional format shifts will follow the launch. No details about new on-air talent moves have been released.
What It Means: Beasley is clearly pushing to energize a summer audience in a competitive market. The strategic timing around a holiday weekend maximized launch visibility. Furthermore, the “Free Gas Friday” promotion signals an intent to build ongoing listener engagement. This rebrand positions Party 98.3 as a community-first brand with promotional momentum already in motion.
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Radio One is reshaping its Dallas/Fort Worth cluster starting Monday. The company closes on a $22 million purchase of KKDA-FM and KRNB while divesting KZMJ for $6 million.
What We Know: Radio One acquires Hip Hop “K104” 104.5 KKDA-FM Dallas and Adult R&B “105.7 Smooth R&B” KRNB Decatur from Service Broadcasting. Simultaneously, it sells Adult R&B “Majic 94.5” KZMJ Gainesville to Fuzion Dallas LLC, an Encouragement Media Group entity. The Rickey Smiley Morning Show moves from KZMJ to Hip Hop “97.9 The Beat” KBFB Dallas effective today. Smiley originally launched on KBFB in 2004 before departing in 2017.
What They Said: KZMJ Program Director and middays host Queen Indy Beeaddressed listeners directly ahead of the format’s final day. “This is not goodbye, it’s see ya later,” she wrote on Instagram. “To every loyal listener across DFW, thank you for making us part of your days, your drives, and your lives.” She added, “Majic 94.5 — the magic isn’t gone… it’s just getting ready for its next chapter.”
What Remains Unclear: KZMJ’s transition timeline to Spanish Christian “Fuzion” has not been formally announced. It’s also unknown whether any KZMJ air talent will move to other Radio One properties. Additionally, programming details for the newly acquired KKDA-FM and KRNB remain unconfirmed.
What It Means: Radio One is strategically consolidating its DFW presence around Hip Hop and R&B formats. Meanwhile, the return of Smiley to KBFB closes a full circle — he first built his Dallas audience there. The cluster restructuring signals a deliberate push to maximize reach across the market’s Black audience. DFW radio is about to look noticeably different.
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We did something special in New York City last week. Our Super Bowl, WrestleMania or Catalina Wine Mixer attracted over 500 media professionals over the span of three days. Many had influence across the world of management, programming, hosting, representation, tech, advertising, measurement, syndication, digital, TV and podcasting. I want to thank every speaker, sponsor and attendee who joined us for a memorable 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit. Video from all sessions will be added to the Barrett Media YouTube channel this week. Subscribe to the channel so you’re notified once the sessions are uploaded.
If you’ve ever seen the movie Moneyball, I’m Billy Beane after he’s been offered the largest contract to an executive in professional sports. Peter Brand has to remind me that we’ve hit a homerun and didn’t even realize it. I’ll spend days thinking about the mic flags being left at home, a screwup in the program or a rushed question on a panel that it’s difficult to absorb the moment and appreciate it. That said, I was very happy with this year’s show. After our Barrett Bash last year, I knew that we had to reimagine our approach to live events. This year’s strategy was much better. Seeing the mixture of accomplished people in the room made it unique and one of our best events yet. 36 partners were involved in the show too — a record. There is not another event out there like this one.
I say this often, we want to celebrate, educate and challenge the media business. To do that, honest conversations with business leaders must take place. I will never go on stage looking to attack or embarrass anyone but I’m also not going to avoid real issues. As I tell many in advance, I control the questions, you control the answers. If everyone is open, honest, and willing to share insight, the room gets smarter. That helps professionals gain a deeper understanding of what they must do to be more valuable and successful.
What Stood Out
The SVA Theatre provided an intimate feel and good tech team which helped us deliver a good show. Stephanie Eads knocked it out of the park with this year’s setup and sponsor activations. The show was also in a private building, which was important, especially following last year’s tragedy with Charlie Kirk. The green room setting was also great. Dylan Barrett was on point managing our backstage interview process.
Point to Point Marketing stepped up as our presenting sponsor. Their creative posters and social images around the event to promote a 20K Audience Development Campaign giveaway were a hit. Announced today on PTPMarketing.com, Hank Fuerst of Ramsey Solutions won the 20K campaign. Speaking of winners, Matt Fishman won Collette‘s trip giveaway to either Italy, Ireland or Iceland.
Kelli Turner did a nice job in her industry debut. She was open, honest, and didn’t sidestep any question. I don’t go into interviews letting guests know every single thing I have planned. There needs to be natural reaction along with a few prepared topics. She was comfortable, engaging, and understood the challenges facing Audacy and the audio industry. Her honesty about the St. Louis sale and needing to be open to all possibilities as a CEO was smart. People can agree or disagree with her outlook but I appreciated it. She even interacted with folks in the hallway prior to the session. Audacy leadership has avoided these conversations in prior years. This was a great sign.
If individual stocks were available, I’d buy tons of Josh Pate. He’s already successful but his business acumen is outstanding. He even took time to talk with aspiring broadcasters and share his number. Josh is going to do even bigger things moving forward. Attendees also saw why Boomer, Gio and Carton, Paul Finebaum,Funk Flex and Angela Yee, Jim Kerr, Scott Shannon, and Broadway Bill Lee, Sid, Larry, Erick and Simone, Joon, D.A., Jake and BT, and Murphy, Sam and Jodi are not only exceptional performers, but also well versed in business. Funk Flex‘s truth bomb on the real issues with the radio industry had everyone’s undivided attention. Boomer Esiason‘s advice on attaching yourself to revenue struck a chord. Frank Kramer‘s “Don’t put music into your morning show, put your morning show into your music” stood out. So did Buck Sexton‘s point on Rush Limbaugh’s shoes being so big they needed Clay and Buck to fill both. As usual, Stephen A. Smith captured the room, creating 3-4 headlines during our 40-minute conversation.
Jason Barrett chats with Craig Carton, Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti at the 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit
A special shout out Andre Yancey of 94.7 The Block. I said it on stage, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. I wasn’t aware that Damizza was more comfortable reacting than hosting so when he shared that on stage, I knew we had to call an audible. The last thing I wanted was for him and everyone involved to have a bad experience. Andre stepped in to lead the group and absolutely crushed it. That entire session was spectacular. His knowledge of the format, the people involved, and his command of the session allowed it to shine. It was a great reminder of the importance of staying ready. Every participant in that session was awesome.
The Premiere Networks Awards ceremonies for all three days were special. A big thank you to Julie Talbott, Peter Tripi, and Hosea Belcher for seeing the vision and continuing to support it. Chad Lopez, Phil Boyce and Mark Simone represented an outstanding class at our news show. Paul Finebaum, Chris Oliviero and Eric Spitz were exceptional at our sports shows. And the introduction of the Mike McVay and Scott Shannon Awards and acceptance of both honors from Yonni Rude and Kevin Rolston made for a perfect ending.
I especially want to thank Mike Gallagher for flying in to surprise Phil Boyce. Oliviero’s WFAN letter, Finebaum’s remarks about his family’s New York ties, and Spitz’s words about his family were memorable. So were Yonni’s words about Mike McVay. Kevin’s impression of Scott Shannon was hilarious, and Scott’s final word on Rolston delivering the worst acceptance speech he’d ever heard was a perfect final touch.
Shane Profitt sounded great at the Magellan AI After Party. He even spent time with attendees afterwards too. A big thank you to Raffaella Braun and the Triple Tigers team for bringing Shane to NYC.
It was great seeing Rich Tunkel of Nielsen in the room for all three days. Having Xperi’s Juan Galdamez and Joe D’Angelo present was also excellent. Rich and Juan were both on stage too and each provided valuable takeaways. Rob Miller did an outstanding job guiding the State of Audio Measurement panel which included John Rosso and Cameron Hendrix. Media folks love data, and want to trust and support the groups they’re in business with. When both sides know each other and spend time together, it makes a difference.
If we gave out an award for best passion it’d go to Keith Dakin with Anna Zap and Sid Rosenberg battling to pull it away. All had great energy on stage. I also thought Christine Travglini, Hank Fuerst, John Sylvester, Ryan Spoon, James Kurdziel, Mark Adams, Jon Zellner, Jeff Sottolano, and Greg Strassell dropped pearls of wisdom on stage. The laughs from Jimmy Failla and Adam Carolla were incredible. The panel conversation between Buzz Knight, Fred Jacobs and Mike McVay was both candid and thought provoking.
Keith Dakin, Jon Zellner and Jeff Sottolano caught up outside the green room at the 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit
It was cool to see Susan Larkin and her teams at RCS, MediaMonitors, and MediaBase in the room learning and networking. Special thanks to Alissa Pollack for delaying a vacation to support the show.
A big shout out to agent to the stars Heather Cohen. Not only does she consistently support the Summit, but she encourages her clients to attend too. We love you Heather!
Needs Improvement
The toughest thing about the show is that I am so busy running it that I don’t get time to interact with many folks. There are literally instances where my only interaction is an on-stage handshake. That’s the one part of the event I wish was different for yours truly.
My energy for day three did not meet my standard. I nearly lost my voice the night before, which became concerning, but no excuses, I need to be better. My opening monologue was solid and the Final 40 was good but my ins and outs were not crisp.
I contemplated adding an all-female panel prior to the show. Looking back, I should’ve done it. We had some outstanding ladies involved but should have featured more. That will be a focus for the next one.
Focusing on specific formats was a good idea. The creative that supported the sessions kicked ass. But with only one day of content it was hard to go deeper into each format. Unfortunately, we can’t do a 10-day Summit. Providing more depth for key formats is something we have to figure out moving forward.
Getting people to the venue for the start of the show is always tough. Keeping them in the room for all panels can also be a challenge. Many want to network and see friends not just learn. I just wish more folks saw Joel Raab, Tim Roberts, Andie Summers and Hawkeye. That was a damn good session. The room got busier halfway through but they missed some great insights early on. Tim’s story of how an early bond with Garth Brooks paid off thirty years later was especially great. Make sure to re-watch it later. All involved offered smart insights.
Joel Raab leads the Choosin Country panel featuring Andie Summers, Mark ‘Hawkeye’ Louis, and Tim Roberts.
We had a few staff communication issues cause confusion. I serve as both host and executive producer, which is hard. Once a show starts, I am counting on our core team of 6 to execute and direct our supporting staff. Some took initiative and wore multiple hats, others did not.
What You Missed
We promoted 96 speakers in advance. Lee Abrams had a last minute conflict but Lee Harris, Mike Gallagher and Andre Yancey joined the mix to boost the total to 98. The collection of star power across various roles was impressive. Here’s a snapshot below.
Talent: Stephen A. Smith, Adam Carolla, Buck Sexton, Jimmy Failla, Mike Gallagher, Lee Harris, Erick Erickson, Sid Rosenberg, Mark Simone, Larry O’Connor, Ryan Gorman, Pete Mundo, Chris Krok, Boomer Esiason, Craig Carton, Gregg Giannotti, Paul Finebaum, Josh Pate, Kevin Clark, Brandon Tierney, Damon Amendolara, Joon Lee, Jake Asman, Chad Millman, Murphy, Sam and Jodi, Frank Kramer, Jim Kerr, Scott Shannon, Broadway Bill Lee, Sean Copeland, Anna Zap, Andie Summers, Mark ‘Hawkeye’ Louis, Angela Yee, Funk Flex, and Kevin Rolston.
Executives: Kelli Turner, Jeff Smulyan, Mike Foss, Ryan Spoon, Pete Gianesini, Jon Zellner, Jeff Sottolano, Chris Oliviero, Chad Lopez, Keith Dakin, Greg Strassell, Phil Boyce, Chris Berry, John Sylvester, Hank Fuerst, Chris Berry, and Christine Travglini.
Programming: Drew Anderssen, Ken Charles, Ben Mevorach, Dave Tepper, Ann Thomas, Mitch Rosen, Justin Craig, Armen Williams, Justin Craig, Scott Shapiro, Matt Moscona, Kraig Riley, Rod Lakin, Paul Mason, Eric Spitz, Mark Chernoff, Rob Miller, Tim Roberts, Skip Dillard, Devin Steel, Damion ‘Damizza’ Young, Chris Lloyd, James Kurdziel, Justin Johnson, Mark Adams, Andre Yancey, and Steve Salhany.
Management: Mary Sandberg Boyle, Dan Seeman, Natalie Marsh, Michael Spacciapolli, and Lee Davis.
Consultants/Tech/Measurement: Mike McVay, Fred Jacobs, Buzz Knight, Joel Raab, Jim Ryan, Sharon Dastur, Daniel Anstandig, Rich Tunkel, John Rosso, Cameron Hendrix, and Juan Galdamez.
Rob Miller guides the State of Audio Measurement session featuring John Rosso, Cameron Hendrix and Rich Tunkel.
In addition, our attendees list was strong too. If you were at the SVA Theatre for all three days, you’d have seen the following people.
Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott, Skyview Networks CEO and Owner Steve Jones, RCS CEO Susan Larkin, BFOA Chairman Scott Herman, SiriusXM SVP of Sports Jared Fox, SiriusXM VP/GM of Talk Dave Gorab, Cumulus Media SVP of Sports Bruce Gilbert, Radio One VP of Programming Colby Colb, Gamut VP of Podcasting John Goforth, VSiN EVP of Programming Steve Cohen, MediaBase/iHeartMedia Executive Vice President Global Music Marketing Alissa Pollack, Director of Corporate Operations at Zimmer Communications, Trevor Morgan, Superadio President Eric Faison, RadioCraft VP of Entertainment Scott Meyers, and Talk Media Network CEO Josh Leng. Programmers Eric Wellman, Cynthia Smith, Ryan Hurley, Robby Bridges, Jason Dixon, Matt Fishman, Blake Taylor, Allan Lamberti, and Cat Thomas, and Market Managers Andrea Kahrer, Marsha Landess were also there.
On the talent side, Ian Eagle and Kenny Albert were in the room. So were Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Wilkow, Shelly Wade, Greg Beharrell, Race Taylor, Corinna Delgado, Carol Miller, Jusnik, Maggie Gray, Chris Carlin, Freddie Coleman, Jeremy Conn, McGraw Milhaven, Rich Valdes, Mary Walters, Jonathan ‘T-Bone’ Smith, Virginia Sinicki, Jared Stillman, Jared Smith, Skywalker, Trevor Marden and TJ Taormina. Agents Heather Cohen, Josh Levy, Kraig Kitchin, John McConnell and Stephanie Cassidy were also in attendance. So were label pros and promoters Raffaella Braun, Erik Olesen, Jerry Lembo, Ray Mariner, and members of Universal Music and NC Management.
Final Thoughts
Many praised our content, production, posters, marquee display and event programs. That meant a lot. We try to tackle key issues and make a strong impression visually. I want those who didn’t attend to see what they missed and regret not coming. Shows like this should be a must for anyone working in the media industry.
To those who didn’t come, you are missing out. This business is rapidly changing. Jobs that exist today won’t in the near future. The more you know and the deeper your connections are, the better your chances of success. You can’t talk about a lack of education, income, and limited chances to build relationships and then not make time to attend. Benjamin Franklin once said, an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. If you value your career, you have to invest in it. Companies will not do it for you.
Moving forward, I want to bring more Advertising professionals, Record Label pros and Market Managers/Presidents into the room. The information and connections formed at this show are worth it. Hopefully next year folks in those roles are more involved.
I have no idea where or when next year’s show will take place but whenever that is, I want Bob Pittman, Dan Patrick, Megyn Kelly and/or Charlamagne tha God to join us. All are gifted speakers with exceptional business knowledge and success. Their insights would be valued. If Joe Rogan and Dave Portnoy want to join in too, I’m happy to make room 🙂
The amount of feedback I received to return to New York was surprising. I’m not sure if we will do that but there are positives to doing so. I just don’t want the show to become predictable or repetitive. It’s why I don’t ask some folks to speak each year. Changing it up is needed. Suggestions on where to host it can be emailed to Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
Attendees gather inside the SVA Theatre hallway during a break in the action
Our biggest decision for 2027 is deciding if we stick with a 3-day, 3-areas of the industry approach or splitting up to two 2-day shows featuring sports/news and two days of music. We could also build a 4-day super show with sports/news and two-days of music. If we split them up, we’d operate in two cities. If not, we’d be in one spot. I’d likely add a special guest host for the music show if we went that route. Regardless of where, when and how we do it, I’d like to avoid being close to a holiday.
Thanks again to all who attended, supported, and spoke at the 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit. We couldn’t have pulled this off without every single one of them. It was a blast uniting and educating the industry, and God willing, we’ll run it back in 2027.
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.
