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2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit Welcomes Hawkeye and Joel Raab

Jason Barrett
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2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit Welcomes Hawkeye and Joel Raab

The 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit presented by Point to Point Marketing is coming to New York City, June 30th-July 2nd. The show takes place at the SVA Theatre on West 23rd Street each day from 9a-5p ET. It starts with our News Media Summit on Tuesday 6/30, the Sports Media Summit on 7/1, and wraps up with our first-time ever Music Radio Summit on 7/2. After parties follow all three events.

1-Day, 2-Day and 3-Day passes are discounted until 11:59pm ET tonight! We also created a special Cluster Rate to help Executives/Market Managers limit expenses for larger groups. To purchase tickets, reserve a hotel room, and see our speakers list, click here or visit the Summit section up top.

Be advised, you must work in the media industry to attend. This conference is not open to the general public. Our full event schedule gets released closer to the event. We do it this way because industry issues tend to change prior to a show. Offering fresh, relevant, and focused content on the most important issues is our top priority. Our speakers are experienced, trusted, and accomplished. We’re sure their insights, ideas, and opinions will help others in the room. If you work in music, radio or in a business that connects to either, we hope you’ll make time to join us.

Introducing the Latest Lineup Additions

With today’s announcement, we’re up to 24 speakers for the Music Radio show. By the time the show rolls around, 35+ will grace our stage. Let’s share some background on our two new additions.

Joel Raab is one of the most respected and trusted consultants in Country radio. His client roster includes Audacy, Beasley, Bonneville, Max Media, Americom, Forever Media, Saga Communications, Renda Broadcasting, VerStandig, Leighton, and others. Prior to consulting, Joel programmed and served as an on-air personality in New York, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He entered the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2015, has served on the Board of Directors for Country Radio Broadcasters since 2009, was Chairman of the CRS research committee from 2013–2018, and was Co-Chairman of the Country Radio Hall of Fame Selection Committee from 2019-2020. We’re thrilled to have him guiding our Country panel.

Mark “Hawkeye” Louis hosts the longest running FM Morning Show in Dallas – Fort Worth. The New Country 96.3 morning man is a member of the Country Radio Hall of Fame, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and winner of the Billboard Air Personality of the Year, and The Country Music Association’s and Academy of Country Music’s DJ of the Year. He was also nominated in 2025 for the National Radio Hall of Fame. Mark has helped raise millions of dollars through his work on the Board of the BMW Dallas Marathon. He’s also the author of the critically acclaimed best selling guidebook San Antonio Uncovered. We’re excited to have him joining our Country panel alongside Tim Roberts, Andie Summers, and Joel Raab.

Barrett Media’s two new Music Radio editors, David Hill and Bethany Kent will both be involved too. Both can now be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com and Bethany@BarrettMedia.com. Details on their roles are still to come.

The current group of speakers scheduled to participate at the Music Radio Show on Thursday, July 2nd

Thank You to Our Partners

We are fortunate to have great partners for this conference. The list is extensive and we couldn’t pull this off without every single one of them. My thanks to Point to Point Marketing, Premiere Networks, Collette, Core Image Studio, JJ Surma Voiceovers, Omaha Productions, Boneville International, MRN Radio, Quu, Xperi, Ramsey Solutions, Red Apple Audio Networks, Harker Bos Group, Benztown, Salem Media Network, Murphy, Sam & Jodi, Jim Cutler NY, Backbone, and Gamut Podcast Network for their support.

Opportunities for the show are still available but they’re running out fast. If you represent a company and want to be involved, email Stephanie Eads at Stephanie@BarettMedia.com. She can let you know which slots are still available.

We are less than 70-days away from gathering the industry in NYC this summer. A strong group is expected to join us. Whether you are a CEO, Executive, Market Manager, Program Director, Host, Producer, Seller, Buyer, Advertiser, Podcaster, Digital/Social expert, Researcher, Consultant or in any other role that connects to the audio industry, you will learn a lot, make great connections, and leave the room with actionable information to improve your brand and yourself.

I hope to see you in NYC. Please save some money on tickets and take advantage of today’s sale!

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

NFL Meets With FCC To Discuss Media Rights Approach

BSM Staff
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NFL Meets With FCC To Discuss Media Rights Approach

The NFL isn’t waiting around. The league met last week with senior FCC officials to defend its media-rights approach amid growing federal scrutiny, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

The meeting, requested by the NFL, followed the FCC’s probe into sports media’s streaming shift. The Justice Department is also investigating whether leagues are engaging in anticompetitive practices.

According to the report, NFL media chief Hans Schroeder led the presentation. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr greeted league officials before handing off to his advisers. Carr has publicly targeted sports leagues over the streaming migration.

Schroeder defended the NFL’s 65-year-old antitrust exemption, which lets the league negotiate rights for all 32 teams collectively. The league argued that individual team negotiations would create more viewer confusion and higher costs.

The numbers back the NFL’s position. Schroeder said 87% of NFL games air on broadcast TV via CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC. Even streaming deals include local market simulcasts.

“Facts are stubborn things,” Schroeder said.

The FCC isn’t fully convinced. In February, the agency warned that streaming’s growth could hurt local broadcasters’ ability to serve their communities, including producing local news. Fox Corp echoed those concerns, telling the FCC that making streaming “the default viewing option for live sports could have devastating consequences for consumers and broadcast stations alike.”

Schroeder pushed back, calling the NFL’s streaming expansion measured.

“Even as we’ve gone on to new platforms like Netflix or Amazon…we are doing so in a very selective and appropriate way,” he said.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

KSL Sports Zone Moves Jake Scott to Afternoons, Adds Tim LaComb to Middays

BSM Staff
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KSL Sports Zone Moves Jake Scott to Afternoons, Adds Tim LaComb to Middays

KSL Sports Zone has overhauled its weekday talk lineup. In a company announcement, the biggest change comes in middays. Scott Garrard now teams with Tim LaComb for a new 10AM–2PM show called Scotty G. and The Coach. Garrard had been hosting the timeslot solo since Hans Olsen departed the station in January.

KSL Sports Program Director Lloyd Cole shared his excitement on welcoming LaComb to the KSL Sports Zone lineup.

“Tim LaComb brings years of coaching experience and an infectious positive energy that has helped him build authentic relationships with some of the biggest names in sports,” Cole said. “That coupled with the continued charismatic brilliance of Scott Garrard will provide the listener with an incredible show the likes of which has never been witnessed here in Utah.”

The afternoon slot also sees a notable return. Jake Scott is back in afternoon drive for the first time since 2021. He’s joined by KSL Sports Zone Utah Jazz Insider Ben Anderson from 2–6PM. They replace the former afternoon show hosted by Jeremiah ‘JJ’ Jackson and Alex Kirry. Kirry posted he is remaining with KSL with a new project being crafted.

Jake and Ben aren’t strangers. The duo previously shared the 10AM–12PM slot together five years ago. Now they reunite with a bigger platform and a later time slot.

KSL Sports Zone carries Utah Jazz, Utah Mammoth, Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals, Utah State Aggies, and Salt Lake Bees coverage.

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.

Salem Media SVP Phil Boyce: Larry Elder ‘More Than Deserving’ of Radio Hall of Fame

BNM Staff
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Salem Media SVP Phil Boyce: Larry Elder ‘More Than Deserving’ of Radio Hall of Fame

The Radio Hall of Fame released its list of nominees for the 2026 class, and a familiar name reappeared: Larry Elder. One of his bosses says it’s past time for the Salem Radio Network host to be inducted.

2026 marks the fifth time Larry Elder has been nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame. “The Sage from South Central” has been unsuccessful in getting over the hump and earning election to the prestigious institution.

Phil Boyce, the Senior Vice President of Content for Salem Media, says it’s past time to elect Elder.

“Larry has built one of the most recognizable and enduring brands in talk radio,” said Boyce. “To be nominated again by a new group of industry leaders speaks to the strength of his voice, his audience connection and the impact he continues to have across the country. We believe he is more than deserving of this honor.”

After departing Salem Radio Network in 2021 to run for Governor of California, Elder returned in 2024. He now helms the 6-9 PM ET window for the nationally syndicated network.

The Class of 2026

The Radio Hall of Fame announced 24 nominees for the class of 2026 on Wednesday morning.

This year’s nominees include:

  • Andie Summers
  • Big D & Bubba
  • B-ob Stroud
  • Boomer Esiason
  • Charlie Van Dyke
  • Enrique Santos
  • Fred Winston
  • Funkmaster Flex
  • Helen Little
  • Joey Reynolds
  • John & Ken
  • Johnny Magic
  • Kevin Matthews
  • Kid Leo
  • Larry Elder
  • Lee Arnold
  • Monica May
  • Pat Hughes
  • Raul Brindis
  • Rickey Smiley
  • Ryan Cameron
  • Shotgun Tom Kelly
  • The Electrifying Mojo
  • Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!

The class will be announced on Wednesday, May 20th. Honorees will be celebrated on October 8 at a ceremony taking place at the Fairmont Hotel Chicago

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.

Prime Video NBA Play-in Tournament Viewership up 18% From 2025

BSM Staff
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Prime Video NBA Play-in Tournament Viewership up 18% From 2025

Prime Video delivered a strong debut with its exclusive coverage of the NBA Play-In Tournament. Prime Video averaged 2.79 million U.S. viewers across six games. That figure marks an 18% increase over last year’s linear television average.

The gains extended across key demos. Viewership jumped 35% among Adults 18-34. Adults 18-49 rose 34%. Adults 25-54 increased 29%.

The audience also skewed younger. The median age landed at 45.6 years old. That’s more than four years younger than last year.

Prime Video dominated primetime during the event. It ranked as the most-watched network among viewers under 50 each night. That included Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49, and Adults 25-54. Male demos in those same groups also led the way.

The most-watched game featured the Warriors and Suns on April 17. That matchup delivered 3.65 million viewers. Warriors-Clippers drew 3.15 million. Magic-76ers followed with 2.66 million.

Postgame coverage also performed well. NBA Nightcap averaged 1.08 million viewers throughout the tournament. The show peaked with 1.33 million viewers after Warriors-Suns.

Globally, the numbers were just as impressive for the NBA. Amazon reported 52 million devices streamed the Play-In Tournament worldwide. Total watch time exceeded 2.5 billion minutes.

The event reached fans in more than 200 countries and territories. Top international markets included Japan, Brazil, and Mexico. Australia, India, Spain, and France also delivered strong audiences.

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.

Nexstar CEO Perry Sook at NAB Show: Soon ‘Only 2 or 3 Companies’ Will Control All of Local TV

BNM Staff
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Nexstar CEO Perry Sook at NAB Show: Soon ‘Only 2 or 3 Companies’ Will Control All of Local TV

Nexstar Media Group is in the midst of attempting to acquire TEGNA in a multi-billion-dollar deal. The company’s CEO, Perry Sook, shared insight into the move while speaking at the NAB Show.

Currently, the transaction is being held up after a federal judge ruled in favor of the likes of DirecTV, Newsmax, and a coalition of state attorneys general who argued that the move was likely to harm the satellite company and consumers who lived in the challenging states.

While speaking at the NAB Show in Las Vegas with former Inside Edition host Deborah Norville, Sook used similar language to that of FCC chair Brendan Carr, calling the situation a “break-glass moment.”

He said that in the near future, “two or three companies” will survive to control the local television business.

“It’s only a matter of time … Make no mistake about it. There are many companies in both television and radio that are financially struggling right now,” Sook said.

Some have argued that Nexstar Media Group’s ownership of multiple stations in a single market is a net negative. Critics claim the deal is bad for the media and news businesses and hurts viewers. Sook disagreed.

“If we maintain the status quo, newsrooms will close. I don’t close newsrooms. I just move them into one building,” the Nexstar CEO said.

While the acquisition of TEGNA is paused, Perry Sook was adamant that his company will ultimately own the stations involved in the deal.

“We’re not in control of the timetable,” he said. “It will play out over a series of months here. We have confidence that we will prevail on the facts and on the law. We’ll be vigorous in our defense.”

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.

NAB Show Honors Mo Rocca With the 2026 LABF Insight Award

BNM Staff
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NAB Show Honors Mo Rocca With the 2026 LABF Insight Award

Mo Rocca added another accolade to his impressive career at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF), partnering with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), presented Rocca with the 2026 LABF Insight Award.

LABF Co-Chairs Deborah Parenti and Dave “Chachi” Denes introduced him on the Main Stage during the “We Are Broadcasters” program.

“We were honored to present Mo Rocca with the 2026 Insight Award,” said Parenti and Denes. “His storytelling continues to inform, engage, and inspire audiences everywhere.”

Now in its fifth year, the Insight Award recognizes individuals whose work deepens public understanding of media’s role and evolution. Rocca earned it through decades of impactful, wide-ranging storytelling.

Most know Rocca as a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, a role he has held since 2011. He blends journalism, history, and humor with rare skill. He also created and hosts the popular podcast Mobituaries, authored a bestselling book, and regularly appears on Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!

His roots run deep in broadcast television. He served as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno earlier in his career. Rocca joins a strong list of past honorees recognized for elevating the public’s understanding of media through their work.

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.

MS NOW to Host Zohran Mamdani for Primetime Special Anchored by Chris Hayes

BNM Staff
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MS NOW to Host Zohran Mamdani for Primetime Special Anchored by Chris Hayes

MS NOW has announced it will host New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for a new primetime special, discussing his first 100 days in office.

All In America: Mayor Mamdani will air on Friday, April 24th at 8 PM ET. The show will be anchored by Chris Hayes.

Hayes will sit down with the New York City mayor to discuss his first 100 days in office. They’ll also touch on the key initiatives being implemented by Mamdani.

It isn’t the first time Zohran Mamdani has appeared on Chris Hayes’ MS NOW program. Following his election win in November last year, Mamdani was an in-studio guest. That visit came after Mamdani’s appearance at the White House with President Donald Trump.

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.

SiriusXM Partners With YouTube As U.S. Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative

BSM Staff
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SiriusXM Partners With YouTube As U.S. Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative

SiriusXM Media just made a major power move in audio advertising. The company announced an exclusive partnership with Google, making SiriusXM Media the sole U.S. advertising representative for YouTube audio inventory.

It’s a landmark deal connecting two of the biggest names in audio and digital media.

For the first time, advertisers gain access to guaranteed impressions at scale across YouTube’s audio content. That includes podcasts, music, and talk shows — wherever listeners engage with audio-first content.

Scott Walker, SiriusXM’s Chief Advertising Revenue Officer, didn’t downplay the significance.

“Audio is one of the most powerful mediums for listeners, creators, and advertisers alike,” Walker said. “By partnering with YouTube, a true leader in ad-supported content consumption, we’re uniting our unique skillset with their audience, creating an unparalleled opportunity for marketers and creators to grow their businesses.”

YouTube’s Romana Pawar, Senior Director of Product for YouTube Ads, echoed that sentiment.

“By partnering with SiriusXM Media, we are making it easier than ever for advertisers to tap into these high-attention moments,” said Pawar.

A joint SiriusXM Media and Edison Research study found over 212 million monthly U.S. listeners engage with audio-first content on YouTube. Combined with SiriusXM Media’s existing portfolio, the platform now reaches 255 million monthly listeners — nearly 90% of the U.S. population aged 13 and older.

The buying experience runs through AdsWizz Inc.’s ad tech platform. Starting this fall, brands can purchase guaranteed YouTube audio impressions directly through SiriusXM Media alongside its existing inventory.

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.

WWE Wrestlemania 42 Finishes as One of Company’s Highest Grossing Events Ever

BSM Staff
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WWE Wrestlemania 42 Finishes as One of Company’s Highest Grossing Events Ever

WrestleMania 42 delivered big — and the numbers prove it. WWE, a TKO Group Holdings company, confirmed the two-night event ranks among the highest-grossing in company history.

Gate, sponsorship, merchandise, and digital metrics all hit record or near-record levels.

Over two nights at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the event drew 106,072 fans. Attendees came from all 50 states and more than 69 countries.

WrestleMania 42 locked in a record 32 marketing partners. Sponsors included Snickers, 2K, Riyadh Season, and Dodge Ram among others. The TV numbers were equally strong. WrestleMania Saturday topped ESPN2 as the most-viewed telecast of the year. WrestleMania Sunday led the entire weekend on ESPN.

ESPN has not released official viewership data for the weekend event.

Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk on Sunday night to claim the World Heavyweight Championship. Saturday’s main event saw Cody Rhodes retain his Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, despite interference from Pat McAfee.

WWE World, a five-day fan experience run in partnership with Fanatics, posted all-time highs in paid experience sales. The event also debuted a dedicated lounge for Club WWE Gold members.

On social, WrestleMania 42 generated more than 1.3 billion views across all platforms. That’s an 18 percent jump over the record set at WrestleMania 41.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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