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Stampede Social Unveils New DM Automation for Podcaster Host-Read Ad Attributions

John Mamola
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Stampede Social Unveils New DM Automation for Podcaster Host-Read Ad Attributions

Stampede Social has unveiled three new tools built for podcast hosts and networks. The Meta-approved platform is bringing automation and advertiser attribution to the podcast space.

What We Know: Stampede Social’s new features connect directly to any podcast RSS feed. The first tool, a “Set-It-and-Forget-It” campaign, lets hosts assign a permanent keyword to their feed. Fans who comment or DM that keyword instantly receive the latest episode. The second feature allows hosts to assign unique keywords to individual catalog episodes, driving listeners directly to specific content. The third, and first of its kind, is a host-read Ad Attribution. When a host reads a mid-roll ad, they give listeners a keyword to DM. Stampede fires back an instant DM with the sponsor’s destination link and promo code, and tracks every single click. Sponsors will gain data whether the ad worked and start seeing real attribution data tied to air date and episode.

What They Said: Jeff Dwoskin, Co-founder of Stampede Social: “Your next thousand listeners are already commenting. We built these features so a host can set up once and run forever, and so sponsors finally get click data instead of promo code guesses.”

What Remains Unclear: Stampede Social has not disclosed pricing for these podcast-specific tools. It’s also unknown how many podcast networks are currently using the platform. Additionally, how advertisers will integrate this attribution data into broader campaign reporting remains to be seen. The platform tracks keyword-triggered clicks but hasn’t addressed third-party analytics compatibility.

What It Means: Podcast advertising has long struggled with reliable attribution. Stampede Social’s keyword-driven DM system gives sponsors real click data tied to specific air dates and episodes. That directly addresses a persistent industry pain point. If it scales, this approach could pressure other platforms to offer similar trackable solutions for host-reads.

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.

Isiah Thomas Demands More Honesty, Truth From Former NBA Players As Analysts On Network Television

John Mamola
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Isiah Thomas Demands More Honesty, Truth From Former NBA Players As Analysts On Network Television

Basketball hall of famer Isiah Thomas has strong opinions about how networks use former players as analysts. The NBA legend wants more truth-telling — and less mythology — on the airwaves.

What We Know: Thomas, an NBA TV analyst, made several appearances on NBC Sports’ coverage of the NBA this season. However, during his appearance on Run It Back, he directed sharp criticism at how networks deploy former players. Specifically, he challenged NBC to be more selective about who it brings on to discuss the game. His comments targeted what he views as a culture of dishonesty in sports media.

What They Said: (all quotes via Run It Back)

Isiah Thomas on networks adding more former NBA players as analysts: “Only if they’re going to be one hundred percent honest, and not promote this BS. Tell the truth about the game. Truthfully, honestly, and factually to the fans so they can continue to learn, grow our game. The way our game is being talked about in some ways, it’s very mythical. It aint real. We’re still call his [Michael Jordan] game the flu game, and they know he didn’t have the flu. Yet they promote it.”

Isiah Thomas hopes for a more honest approach to analysts on networks: “I’m down for honesty and telling the truth about what we’re seeing. If NBC is going to bring back people to talk about the game. Bring the folks who are going to be honest and tell the truth. Not this BS.”

What Remains Unclear: NBC has not responded to the criticisms by Thomas. Additionally, it is unknown which specific analysts or commentators his remarks were aimed at. However, Thomas is known to have a long standing negative relationship with Michael Jordan, who joined NBC Sports for this past season.

What It Means: Thomas’ comments reflect a growing discourse between those of the old guard and the current style of play in the NBA. However, his history with Jordan in particular was likely what sparked these comments. Jordan’s inclusion on NBC Sports drew much criticism for the lack of topicality and more evergreen approach to the content. NBC used Jordan’s presence nearly front and center in announcing and promoting their return to coverage of the NBA. We will see if Thomas makes any return to NBC moving forward.

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: Phil Boyce, Salem Media

Garrett Searight
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Approaching The Summit: Phil Boyce, Salem Media

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.   

Garrett Searight: It was recently announced that you’ll be honored with our Gold Standard in Programming Award. What was your reaction when you got that news?

Phil Boyce: It has been a wild ride in the last 18 months. And I am so proud of every member of the team here at SRN/SNC/SPN. An award like this is a recognition of what we have been through and survived. But it is not an individual award. It is one for this entire team. This is for all the hosts, producers, video folks, sellers, and team members who worked hard to overcome these obstacles and come out shining.

GS: How important is it for folks — especially the news/talk genre — to gather to discuss ideas and issues?

PB: For those of us who love the spoken word formats, it is crucial that we get together to support each other and learn from others who have been there before. We have our own unique perspective. But sharing a common goal and vision for getting better is crucial, and is made better by this gathering. I want to thank Barrett Media for putting this on, and creating a forum for discussion and growth.

GS: What are the most important things you hope to learn and hear about at the Summit?

PB: I want to hear what others are doing to get through one of the toughest times I can recall in this format.

GS: What are the things you hope to share during your panel and speaking with other attendees?

PB: I just want to encourage everybody in this format of the importance of what we do, and the honor we share in doing it.

GS: When you look at the radio industry as a whole, where do you see the biggest opportunities going forward?

PB: I think radio will always be with us. But there will be more opportunities to share our views with the audience through podcasting, OTT television, and social media. Listeners can’t get enough, but there will be new ways where they can get it.

GS: Anything else you’d like to share?

PB: Cherish the 1st Amendment, which gives us the right and the freedom to create great talk radio. If anybody ever tries to take that away, stand together and fight to keep it. America would not survive without 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.

Spotify Puts Human Curators Front And Center On New Music Friday

David Hill
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Spotify Puts Human Curators Front And Center On New Music Friday

What We Know: Spotify has introduced editor-led video recommendations inside its New Music Friday playlist for U.S. listeners, beginning today. The short-form videos appear alongside song picks as users scroll through the playlist on the Spotify mobile app. The feature is available to both free and Premium users. The update merges functionality from The Drop Weekly — a separate editor-driven discovery experience launched in September 2025 — into New Music Friday’s existing format.

What They Said: “New Music Friday has always been about helping fans discover the best new music each week,” said John Stein, Spotify’s Head of North America Editorial. “By bringing our editors directly into the experience, we’re giving listeners a closer connection to the people behind the playlist and more context around the artists and songs shaping culture right now.”

What Remains Unclear

It has not been announced whether the feature will expand beyond the U.S. No timeline has been shared for a broader rollout.

What It Means: Spotify has spent years being defined by its algorithm. Now it’s putting faces on the playlist. Folding editor-led video into New Music Friday suggests the company is actively working to reframe how listeners think about discovery — and distance itself from the “robot playlist” reputation. Since The Drop Weekly launched last fall, editor-driven content has produced more than double the engagement in saves and likes. The message is deliberate: there are real people behind these picks, and Spotify wants you to know 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.

CBS News Names Trevor Phillips as Senior Global Affairs Correspondent

Garrett Searight
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0
CBS News Names Trevor Phillips as Senior Global Affairs Correspondent

CBS News has inked a deal with British media star Trevor Phillips. He’ll serve as a Senior Global Affairs Correspondent for the network.

What We Know: Phillips has most recently served as the host of Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. That program is viewed as one of the flagship shows on the British television network. Phillips was knighted in 2022 for his work in the equality and human rights spaces. In addition to his time at Sky News, he’s also worked for The Sun, The Sunday Times, and The Daily Mail, among others.

What They Said: “Trevor Phillips cuts through the noise. His decades-long career is a masterclass in seeing beyond groupthink and pursuing the truth. Trevor’s deep knowledge of geopolitics and history will be an incredible asset at CBS News, where he’ll quickly become an indispensable voice for audiences across all platforms.” -CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss

What Remains Unclear: When Phillips’ official start date will be. It is also unclear which bureau he’ll be based out of for CBS News.

What It Means: Phillips is a British media star. His appointment to the staff at CBS News should be viewed as a victory for the network. Enticing someone from a prominent role in British media to join CBS News shows the power the brand still commands globally.

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.

KCMO Talk Radio Becomes New Radio Affiliate For Missouri Football, Basketball

John Mamola
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0
KCMO Talk Radio Becomes New Radio Affiliate For Missouri Football, Basketball

Cumulus Media and Mizzou Athletics have a new partnership. KCMO Talk Radio 95.7 FM and 710 AM will serve as the official Kansas City radio home of Missouri Tigers athletics beginning this fall.

What We Know: Cumulus Media, Mizzou Athletics, and Learfield’s Central Bank Tiger Network reached an agreement making KCMO the exclusive Kansas City broadcast home for Mizzou football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. The deal also adds a simulcast affiliate, 102.9 KTOP-FM in Topeka, expanding the Tigers’ regional footprint. Fans can additionally access coverage through the KCMO mobile app, online streaming, and podcast distribution channels.

What They Said: Pete Mundo, Program Director, KCMO Talk Radio 95.7FM and 710AM. “KCMO Talk Radio is proud to be the new home of the Missouri Tigers in Kansas City and Topeka. With Mizzou competing in the SEC, the premier conference in college sports, we’re excited to bring that energy to our listeners. From live game broadcasts and coaches’ shows to exclusive interviews and regular conversation. We’re committed to making Tigers athletics a core part of KCMO Talk Radio. Building a true home for Mizzou fans across Kansas City and Topeka.”

Mizzouri Director of Athletics Laird Veatch: “This partnership with Cumulus Media and KCMO Talk Radio ensures our fans across the region will have a strong, consistent connection to Mizzou Football and Mizzou Men’s and Women’s Basketball all year long.”

What Remains Unclear: The financial terms of the agreement is unknown. It’s also unknown whether additional simulcast affiliates beyond Topeka will be added.

What It Means: This deal strengthens Cumulus Media’s foothold in the college sports rights space. For Mizzouri fans in Kansas City and Topeka, it means consistent, multi-platform access to Tigers programming year-round. KCMO Talk Radio gains a marquee sports property that elevates its profile in a competitive market.

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.

550 WDUN Host Martha Zoller to Retire

Garrett Searight
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550 WDUN Host Martha Zoller to Retire

A longtime 550 WDUN host is set to exit. Martha Zoller has decided it’s time to ride off into the sunset and call it a career.

What We Know: Martha Zoller has spent nearly 25 years with the station over the course of two separate stints. She was a part of the lineup from 1994 to 2009. She then rejoined the station in 2019. She currently hosts a show from 9-11 AM. Her final show is slated for Friday, June 26th. However, after she departs her program, she’ll remain with the 550 WDUN as a political analyst. She’ll also host a daily commentary for the station.

What They Said: “This has been one of the great privileges of my professional life. WDUN has allowed me to talk with governors, senators, local leaders, neighbors, and listeners who care deeply about their communities. I’ve had a front-row seat to history, politics, and the people who shape North Georgia. I am grateful for every conversation, every caller, and every experience I’ve had on WDUN.” -Martha Zoller

What Remains Unclear: Who, if anyone, will replace Zoller in the window. 550 WDUN hosts a local morning show from 5:30-9 AM ahead of Zoller’s show, but is nationally syndicated for the remainder of the day.

What It Means: Martha Zoller has been a staple on 550 WDUN for decades. Her exit leaves a hole in the station’s lineup that will be diffiuclt to replace. However, coming to an agreement to keep a daily commentary and to make appearances as a political analyst is a win for her, the station, and the audience.

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.

ESPN Reportedly Considering Sweeping Changes To Secondary NFL Broadcast Booth

John Mamola
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ESPN Reportedly Considering Sweeping Changes To Secondary NFL Broadcast Booth

ESPN is reportedly on the verge of shuffling its backup NFL broadcast booth, according to a report by The Athletic. With the moves, Chris Fowler will depart the role of the play-by-play role, while Rich Eisen was reportedly not part of the discussions.

What We Know: ESPN is splitting its extra NFL game assignments as part of the acquisition of the NFL Network between Dave Pasch and Bob Wischusen. This would move Chris Fowler out of the NFL play-by-play role entirely. The network holds eight additional games outside Monday Night Football. Seven on the newly acquired NFL Network, including five international contests this fall. Those overseas games effectively made Fowler unavailable, given his college football commitments. Fowler’s former No. 2 booth partners, Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky, are also being repositioned within the network.

What Remains Unclear: ESPN is reportedly still weighing Jason Kelce as a game analyst. Though he likely won’t call every broadcast. Kurt Warner and Louis Riddick remain under consideration for select games. Warner was part of the NFL Network’s play by play team with Rich Eisen for several seasons. Meanwhile, Pasch’s official role hinges on ongoing contract negotiations, creating a slight delay. How conflicts with Pasch’s Arizona Cardinals and Wischusen’s New York Jets radio duties get resolved is also undetermined.

What It Means: The shifts should not come as a surprise. Fowler, Orlovsky and Riddick have all increased their roles within the company outside of being the #2 team for the NFL. This restructuring signals ESPN is aggressively attempting to build new voices toward its Super Bowl LVII broadcast on February 14, 2027 — its first ever. The addition of NFL Network games dramatically expanded the network’s NFL footprint, forcing real roster decisions.

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.

Bob & Tom Executive John Kesler to Retire This October

David Hill
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Bob & Tom Executive John Kesler to Retire This October

A 50-year radio veteran John Kesler is stepping away. Bob & Tom‘s longtime executive is retiring effective October 1, 2026.

What We Know: After five decades in broadcasting, Kesler announced plans to retire from his full-time role with The Bob & Tom Show. His career began in 1976 at WDAN Radio in Danville, Illinois. He will remain connected to the organization as a consultant for six months following his departure. During that transition window, he’ll work closely with Tom, Dwayne, and others on planning for the show’s future.

What They Said: The announcement letter captured the weight of the moment directly. “This has been, without question, the best job I have ever had,” Kesler wrote, adding that colleagues “made this the most rewarding chapter of my career.” He also expressed strong confidence in the road ahead, noting the organization has “an outstanding team, a loyal audience, strong partners, and opportunities that many companies in our industry would envy.”

What Remains Unclear: No successor has been publicly named. The specific scope of his consulting role has not been detailed beyond general transition support. Additionally, what long-term structural changes, if any, may follow his exit remains to be seen.

What It Means: Bob & Tom is navigating a significant leadership transition at a pivotal moment for the radio industry. Nevertheless, the organization appears well-positioned. The six-month consulting arrangement signals a deliberate, steady handoff rather than an abrupt departure. For a show that has survived COVID, affiliate challenges, and decades of industry upheaval, continuity clearly remains the priority.

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.

Lachlan Murdoch Signs Contract Extension to Remain FOX Corp. CEO

Garrett Searight
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Lachlan Murdoch Signs Contract Extension to Remain FOX Corp. CEO

FOX Corp. knows who its CEO will be for the next few years. It isn’t a new name, though, as Lachlan Murdoch will continue in the role.

What We Know: Lachlan Murdoch signed a contract extension to remain as the CEO of FOX Corp. through June of 2030. The company’s CFO, Steve Tomsic, also inked an extension. Murdoch will continue to earn $3 million with the extension. His target annual bonus is rising to $9 million, however. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Murdoch recused himself from the contract extension talks.

What’s At Stake: Under Murdoch’s leadership, the company has pushed deeper into the digital and streaming spaces. The FOX One app has seen strong growth since its implementation. Tubi continues to see its usage rise.

What Remains Unclear: Just how much Murdoch will continue that push into those spaces. Logic would say that the advancement of FOX One and Tubi would inspire a deeper investment into the digital and streaming realms. That remains to be known, however.

What It Means: It was expected that Lachlan Murdoch would continue as the CEO of the company he now controls after buying his siblings out last year. With that legal battle and now a contract extension complete, Murdoch can focus on the future of the organization.

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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