After much consternation and controversy, Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk has announced she’ll meet with Candace Owens privately, cancelling a scheduled live stream in the process.
Owens has made several accusations against Kirk, Turning Point USA, and others in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
For weeks, Turning Point USA and The Charlie Kirk Show remained silent on the accusations. However, at the behest of Erika Kirk, the organization shared that it would address the comments made by Owens at a live stream event, inviting her to attend in person.
Owens initially agreed to attend that event. She later backed out of attending, stating that she would instead host her own live stream at her podcast studio, not appearing in person at the TPUSA event.
On Sunday evening, Erika Kirk took to social media to share that the live stream had been canceled, and that she would meet privately with Owens.
“Candace Owens and I are meeting for a private, in-person discussion on Monday, December 15,” wrote Kirk. “(Candace) and I have agreed that public discussions, livestreams, and tweets are on hold until after this meeting. I look forward to a productive conversation. Thank you.”
Candace Owens and I are meeting for a private, in-person discussion on Monday, December 15. @RealCandaceO and I have agreed that public discussions, livestreams, and tweets are on hold until after this meeting. I look forward to a productive conversation. Thank you.
The statement from Kirk comes after she was asked in a CBS News town hall event what she would say to Owens and others spreading conspiracies about the death of her husband.
“Stop,” she stated, bluntly. “That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.”
After Kirk shared her note, Owens shared a message stating that she was “very much looking forward to this discussion.”
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You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to be familiar with John Cena. If you are, then you had the privilege of watching him perform for over two decades. Whether you chanted ‘Let’s Go Cena’ or ‘Cena Sucks’, John made you care about the stories he was involved in. That’s the sign of great talent. They understand how to connect with an audience.
John Cena’s final WWE match on Saturday Night produced a ton of emotion. As fans, we want to see our heroes go out on top. In the world of professional wrestling though, endings are often used to elevate the next top star. John Cena did that Saturday night for Gunther when he did something he’s rarely done, tapped out. Cena smiled before doing so, signaling to the audience that his time was up. He was at peace with his career and this was the final scene.
On a side note, nobody does production better than the WWE team when big moments are involved. What an outstanding job by the production and digital crews leading up to Saturday night. This piece and the video down below were incredible. Showcasing Cena’s 25-year career and what made him beloved in less than five minutes isn’t easy. WWE captured it perfectly.
But today’s column isn’t about wrestling matches, John Cena’s legacy or the emotional moments from Saturday night. It’s about what John said and did last week.
When asked to reflect on his career by Pat McAfee, Cena said he was handed a lottery ticket. He often wondered if he did enough with it. Yet nearly every single WWE performer praised John Cena’s work ethic and dedication when commenting on his career. All recognized how much he gave of himself to his profession and why he became one of the greatest of all time.
John left his tennis shoes and arm bands in the ring Saturday night. The ring was surrounded by the entire roster as fans cried and clapped, thanking him for all he’d done. In everyone else’s eyes, Cena clearly made the most of the lottery ticket he received.
As I thought about his words, I wondered how many in our business could say they’ve done the same.
Do you wake up every day, chomping at the bit to dive into your work? Are you consistently excellent from segment to segment? Are you investing time in learning, improving, and evolving as a talent or leader? Do you deeply care about the brand’s success and willing to use your platform to lift others? Do you understand the audience’s and advertiser’s expectations and have unique ideas to keep them interested?
Entertaining people is a privilege. We get to represent known and trusted outlets, becoming a part of the audience’s life. Advertisers invest in us because they recognize our connection and trust us to use it to help sell their products. Listeners and viewers invest hours, days, weeks, months, years and decades listening, watching and talking about us. We are their friend on the other end, and a valued distraction from the regular grind.
In many businesses, people do just enough to get by. They’re fine being a face in the crowd or installing the steering wheel rather than driving the car. I struggle to connect with folks who think that way because I live and breathe what I do. From working 60-70 hour weeks during my first year in radio for $100 per week to leading stations as a PD, producing a national sports talk show or building the brand you now read, anything I’ve ever earned has been the result of passion and effort. There are more skilled, experienced, polished and connected people than me. Few care more or will work harder though.
How many times in your place of business have you heard someone say, ‘that’s above my pay grade’? Others may say ‘I didn’t sign up for that’ or ‘if they want me to do more they can pay me more.’ I’ve never liked that attitude and approach. If you are invested in your career, love your work, and care about the brand you represent, the audience you serve, and the people that you work with, you want to do whatever is needed to create success. It’s hard enough keeping an audience interested and advertisers invested. You can’t do either with anchors in your workplace dragging others down.
I interviewed Dave Greene a few years ago for our Sports Editor role. When I explained what was involved with what we do Dave said, ‘I’m not above taking out the trash’. It was a great response. How many in your place of business carry that mentality into the workplace? As resources shrink and job descriptions change, who do you think stands a better chance of surviving, the one who’s flexible or not?
Last year, WWE CEO Nick Khan explained why he can’t stand out of office messages. He said that if someone is reaching out it’s because they need an answer to something and it doesn’t take long to respond. Some might say ‘Nick should disconnect from his work’, but if you love what you do, why would you want to? If the worst thing people can say is that you care too much about your work, is that really a negative? It means you have a passion and love for what you do and who you do it for. Many who say that lack the same amount of passion and love for their profession.
Look at the most successful people in any line of work. Do you think they reached the top by working and caring M-F 8a-5p? From professional sports to politics to recording artists to business owners, A+ players dedicate their lives to what they do. They fail, learn, evolve, improve, and work their asses off to be successful and indispensable.
Which brings me back to John Cena.
John was the face of the company for a large part of his career. He understood the audience, adapted to meet their demands, and accepted the responsibility that came with being the franchise player. He did the autograph signings, made the early morning TV appearances, and worked the heavy in-ring schedule.
But just as important as wrestling a five-star match, John understood the business responsibilities too.
He led by example and used his opportunities to help teach and push future talent. He took seriously his role in selling tickets, merchandise, and growing WWE’s TV ratings and digital traffic. John even learned foreign languages to communicate better with foreign crowds. How many performers care enough about their craft and the company’s success to do that?
Perhaps most important, he embraced Make-a-Wish visits unlike any human being ever has. In the process, he changed lives.
Early in my career I interviewed Cena on my former wrestling radio show in Poughkeepsie, NY. John was a year or two into his WWE run at that time. It didn’t matter what market I was in, he treated it like a huge opportunity. Total Wrestling Magazine in the UK wound up publishing that interview.
Years later, I saw John interact with my son and nephew at multiple shows. Each time he showed gratitude to Dylan and every other fan who came to see him. His popularity had soared by then but it never changed who he was or how he treated people. It’s easy to root for stars who consistently do and say the right thing.
In John’s final in-ring moment, with audience interest and engagement at its peak, he used his opportunity to push the next star forward. Many hated the ending because they loved John and wanted to see him win, but John understood what mattered most in that situation. It was about closing one chapter and starting the next. Anyone who has followed John Cena knows he has done this his entire career.
Because John Cena listened, adapted, and invested himself in his work, he reaped the rewards of an amazing career. Hustle, Loyalty and Respect were more than three words used to generate attention and revenue. They reflected John Cena’s character and commitment, and were the foundation for his connection with the audience. Years from now when people look back on John’s WWE career, they’ll fondly remember what he did, what he stood for, and how he made them feel. He poured his heart and soul into everything he did.
Legends are made regularly in every business. The best breathe rarefied air, and become unforgettable, producing a trail of tears along the way. If John Cena can have that affect on people, so can you. The question is, are you willing to pay the same price and push the next person forward?
Many want to be rich, successful and remembered forever. Few are willing to relentlessly work at it and do what’s best for the brand even when it benefits someone else.
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It’s not always easy to predict the impact radio stations going to all holiday music will have on the Nielsen ratings. They always do well, but how well varies from year to year. Sometimes they make a huge impact with record setting shares while in other years, the numbers are solid but not as impactful.
If I had to guess, I would imagine this year is going to be big for holiday music. The prevailing wisdom is that in years of turmoil or stress listeners gravitate to their happy place, holiday music, in bigger numbers and for longer periods of time. Considering how difficult this year has been for many people I would expect 2025 to be a big one for Bing, Wham, and Mariah.
In his Graphs About Songs newsletter last week, Matt Bailey reinforced my theory. He says that five different Christmas songs made the Spotify Top 200 chart in the first week of November. By the following week it was up to fourteen. For comparison in 2022 only three songs were in the Top 200 at that point on the calendar.
Bailey also notes that in 2020 total streams for Christmas songs in November jumped 74% but the following year, with Covid more under control, listening fell back to pre-pandemic levels. He also cites several other examples of times when the country faced challenges and holiday music listening was higher than usual. In his words, “when the going gets tough, the tough get jolly.”
I realize that playing holiday music on Classic Rock/Hits stations isn’t ideal. The songs that fit the format are bad and there is a station across the street delivering the good holiday songs around the clock. In fact, I don’t recommend playing any of them.
That is not, however, an excuse to ignore the holidays. I probably should have written this column last week, but I’ll take a better late than never approach and rant a bit.
Before I started this column I visited the websites and social media channels of several Classic Rock and Hits stations. Want to guess what I found? Other than posts for specific charitable promotions, there was almost zero acknowledgement of the holiday season. Not one had changed the background on their website or the cover photo on their Facebook page. I didn’t see any Instagram posts that engaged listeners in the holiday spirit.
I looked at stations owned by the major broadcasting groups and stations from smaller groups. The results were the same. No acknowledgment of the thing that your listeners are most looking forward to, the holidays.
I haven’t listened to every station, but I’m concerned that the level of effort is similar. I hope everyone has holiday production in place and rolling already. If not, what are you waiting for? I know everyone is busy but simple graphics, social media posts and produced pieces aren’t difficult.
Your listeners are getting in the holiday spirit in an especially big way this year. Is your station embracing that feeling or are you the grinch? Let’s not be the one house on radio street that doesn’t put up holiday decorations.
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Tony Dokoupil stepping into the anchor chair of the CBS Evening News is more than a personnel move. It is another swing at a problem that has haunted CBS News for decades. The broadcast once set the standard for network journalism. For roughly the past 30 years, it has been stuck chasing NBC Nightly News and World News Tonight.
Dokoupil is now tasked with doing what Dan Rather, Bob Schieffer, Katie Couric, Scott Pelley, Anthony Mason, Jeff Glor, Norah O’Donnell, John Dickerson, and Maurice DuBois have largely been unable to do. He has to move the program out of third place. Saying “he just has to do the thing no one has done in three decades” sounds almost sarcastic. Still, that is the assignment.
History is not on his side. CBS has tried gravitas. It has tried warmth. It has tried straight-down-the-middle seriousness and softer storytelling. Different anchors came with different strengths, yet the outcome barely changed. NBC and ABC kept winning. CBS kept searching.
That reality forces an uncomfortable question. If the traditional playbook has failed for thirty years, is it time to try a different one? More specifically, is there room for CBS Evening News to experiment with a slightly right-of-center approach under Dokoupil and new leadership?
Conservatives have spent years hammering mainstream media outlets as liberal propaganda machines. Whether that critique is fair is almost beside the point. Perception drives behavior. Millions of viewers simply do not trust network news. They believe it does not speak to them or for them.
One counter strategy is obvious. If you cannot win the argument, change the frame. Bari Weiss is a right-leaning figure who has built a sizable following by challenging orthodoxies. That is not a criticism. It is an observation about market demand. Large audiences exist for content that feels skeptical of progressive narratives.
Could CBS become the home for conservatives within the network news space? It would be a sharp pivot. It would also be unprecedented. NBC and ABC are not likely to go there. Fox News and Newsmax have proven conservative viewers are loyal. They show up every night. They stick with personalities they trust.
The reward is clear. Even a modest shift could differentiate CBS from its competitors. Being “not NBC” and “not ABC” has not been enough. Being something meaningfully different might be. That difference does not require partisan cheerleading. It could mean broader debate, tougher questions for Democrats, and a willingness to challenge cultural assumptions.
The risks are equally obvious. CBS could alienate longtime viewers who expect a certain tone. Critics would pounce. Internal resistance would be real. Network news still carries institutional memory, and institutions do not turn easily.
Yet there is a worse outcome. The broadcast could keep chugging along, doing what it has always done, and finishing third by a wide margin. That scenario feels familiar. It also feels safe, which might be the biggest problem of all.
When you have tried dozens of remedies, the fear of failure loses its power. At that point, stagnation becomes the real threat. Third place is not neutral. It signals irrelevance in a shrinking ecosystem.
Tony Dokoupil does not strike me as someone you could describe as “reckless.” He comes across as thoughtful and curious. Those traits matter if CBS wants to experiment without detonating its brand. A right-leaning tilt does not have to be loud. It can — conceivably — be subtle, consistent, and grounded in fairness.
New leadership at CBS News may be the key variable. Anchors alone do not change trajectories. Editorial direction does. If executives decide the old map no longer works, Dokoupil could become the face of a recalibration.
None of this guarantees success. Network news habits are deeply entrenched. Viewers often inherit them. Moving even a small slice of the audience would be an accomplishment.
Still, I would not be surprised if we see something like this attempted. Playing it safe has produced the same result for a generation. High-risk, high-reward strategies exist for a reason. Sometimes, the boldest move is simply admitting the old way is not working anymore.
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What happens when a kid from Langhorne Pennsylvania gets the urge to create music at the age of 8 after being introduced to Slipknot (by his dad) and Meek Mill (by his brother)? Meet Zero 9:36.
Born Matthew Cullen, I first heard Zero when he appeared with Theory Of A Deadman on their song “Strangers” in 2020. He then took to the road with Shinedown. Matt loves songwriting, melody, beats and live performance. A modern day artist for sure. He checks all boxes.
5 Years later he has amassed over 400 million streams. Zero has toured massive stages, had a number one at active rock radio with his song “Adrenaline” and has secured his spot as one of the formats most exciting and unique artists.
I recently spoke with Zero about his new album “They Were Always Here” which he describes as a “full length mixtape of rock and rap”. We had a conversation about songwriting, musical moments and more. Welcome to the mind of a new star of the format: Zero 9:36.
The Zero 9:36 Conversation
TC: I said to you before we officially got going “You’ve got balls”, so let’s unpack that a bit. Matthew Cullen is a Langhorne PA kid and I know what it’s like in Langhorne because I got my radio start there. I’m about 70 miles away now. How did Matt become Zero? I know you had a moment with your pop at a Slipknot show, right?
Zero 9:36: I thought I was going to be in Slipknot! My Dad was like “You know they are all numbered”, and I just took Sid’s number (Sid Wilson) unknowingly. I told him that as well. When I started uploading music at eight or nine, I just put it as “zero”. I was the most googleable person, but it became too tough with search engines, especially with Spotify and Apple profiles, so I added the 9:36 which was the time I was born. Now it’s shifted more into a band project, and feels like the Bon Jovi thing, where Bon Jovi is the band but it’s just him.
TC: You’re so authentic, original, and a very unique star. No one has ever been able to tell you what to do. u weren’t a guy who came from a place where you just wanted to be a radio star, you did your thing and hit your own reset button for yourself. Where do you get the feeling that you know your career best and you’re going to take control?
Zero 9:36: I think it’s anything with any career. Someone does something long enough and they know they have to pivot or keep on the track they are on. That’s how every job goes. People think it’s more precious with music, because it’s perceived more, so I can’t let people down, and can’t check what people are expecting but if you just do it as what’s best for you, that’s what it really is. You wouldn’t stay at a job you are unhappy doing or at a job you are underpaid for. You would pivot or change it.
TC: You’re a kid who started putting everything in your laptop. When did you know you were a producer too? When did your mind start piecing things together and how did you know that was a passion for you? Your musical brain has to work in a different way.
Zero 9:36: Me and my friends when we were kids bought an Xbox and a bad computer. I started to record music when I was eight and was watching all of these YouTube rappers and how they mix their music. We would release hundreds of songs a year, recording them at my house on my computer. I then met a producer when I was 16, who would make beats, and record it all. We would be able to put out hundreds of songs a year.
TC: Hundreds?
Zero 9:36: Yeah.
TC: The last record was really heavy too.
Zero 9:36: I never intended for the music to go this heavy, but we started playing shows and the songs that were the heaviest in the set, we were like “Oh that’s what people want to hear!.” So we started making songs that were better live. Obviously I’m in the studio so I get more connected to the feeling of playing the song live and that’s kind of what I want to create.
TC: And your vocals are tremendous. You are a hook and melody guy!
Zero 9:36: I listen to a lot of super melody driven music and I love pop music. I like hearing melodies and metal riffs so they are going in my songs. I’ll write most of my songs in 30 or 40 minutes. I’m happy with how my last album and how this album sounds.
TC: What do you have now, a half a billion streams? And you’re not someone who is not necessarily “Mr. Radio guy”, with so many radio hits like a Shinedown or Three Days Grace. You’ve done it on your own, a DIY guy.
Zero 9:36: It’s funny because “Adrenaline” went #1 on the active rock charts (in 2021) and I think people view that as “oh you should now be the biggest artist in the world, you had a #1 song one time”, but realistically the only way that works is if you do it 25 times!
Closing Comments
I think Matt has many #1’s ahead. The new album “They Were Always Here” has fresh rock energy, brilliant production and songs that cross musical boundaries. They’re mixed with modern day storytelling, and are exactly what rock needs now.
My full interview with Zero 9:36 launches tomorrow on my Carr Stereo Podcast on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Last week marked four years since Vineeta Sawkar was announced as the new morning host on 830 WCCO, a moment that still feels surreal to her.
The Audacy Minneapolis news/talk station handed her the microphone after more than three decades with Dave Lee, a transition that carried weight well beyond a simple lineup change.
“First of all, I cannot believe it’s been four years,” Sawkar said. “Four years just flew by when I think back to that time when I was offered this opportunity to take over at this legendary station from a legend, Dave Lee. He was a wonderful human being, the cornerstone of this radio station. To take over for him, it was exciting and overwhelming.”
That sense of reverence has never faded, even as Sawkar has grown into the role. She remains careful about the language she uses to describe the shift.
“You can’t ever really replace a legend, and even four years later, I don’t ever say that I replaced Dave Lee,” she said. “It is me taking over this mic and doing my thing. That’s what I’ve tried to do these last four years.” What began as a daunting leap has become a daily challenge she still embraces, driven by the energy that comes with morning radio and the unpredictability of live broadcasting.
Sawkar arrived at 830 WCCO with a career rooted largely in television, which made the transition jarring at first.
“My career has been television for most of my life,” she said. “To take on radio, it’s very different, and I’ve enjoyed it. Every day it’s something new, and that’s what I love about this business.”
That learning curve stretched beyond technical differences and into the rhythm of a three-hour daily conversation with Minnesota. Early on, she admits there were moments of doubt.
“I remember when I first started, and I thought, ‘What am I doing?’” she said. “I just wanted to be six months down the road where I really felt good.”
The feeling as if she had found the voice of her morning show didn’t come overnight, however.
“I suppose it took me a year or two to really feel like, ‘Wow, I have ownership of this show,” Sawkar said. “There’s so much to learn in a three-hour show. You have to understand the listeners and the ebbs and flows. I’m constantly learning.”
That evolution has been shaped by her partnership with her producer, Jimmy Erickson, who has spent more than 30 years at the station.
“Jimmy knows the business, knows me, and understands how I can succeed,” said Sawkar. “It’s not Dave Lee’s show anymore. It is mine. It has my stamp and my personality, and I love it.”
That personality shows up in the balance Vineeta Sawkar tries to strike each morning.
“I love the newsy aspects, the sports aspects, and the positive aspects as well,” she said. “I just try to bring some of that to the show every day.”
Listener interaction has become a defining feature. Texts and calls often guide the direction of a segment.
“It really is listener-based,” she said. “We bring in a lot of perspectives from listeners, and sometimes that shapes the ebbs and flows of the show. That’s what I enjoy about it.”
In the four years since she took over the show, Vineeta Sawkar says there wasn’t a singular seminal moment where everything clicked for her, laughing off the idea of an “aha” experience.
“I don’t know if I’ve had that,” she said with a chuckle. “There are days where you think, ‘Wow, this is a really good show.’ There are other days where you think, ‘I could do a lot better’ … I learn from the ones that don’t feel as good,” she said. “There’s always tomorrow with radio.”
The audience reaction has been another lesson in patience. Change, especially in morning radio, is rarely easy. But the 830 WCCO morning host said she’s been lovingly embraced by the legions of listeners.
“You come into people’s homes when they’re waking up and having coffee,” Sawkar said. “It had to be hard to suddenly hear a different voice. When we’re at the Minnesota State Fair and doing live broadcasts, people come up to me and say, ‘You’re not Dave Lee, but you are you, and I like listening to you,’” she said. “That is so uplifting to me.”
Vineeta Sawkar said she’s never set out to mimic her predecessor. And that’s made all the difference.
“I don’t try to be anyone else, and I will never be Dave Lee,” she said. “He is the standard of a legend. I’m just me.”
She compares it to a neighborhood adjusting to change.
“You miss the old neighbor, but you want to get to know the new one,” she said. “I appreciate the listeners who were willing to give me a chance, and they’ve stayed. Maybe some new listeners have joined, too.”
830 WCCO is a heritage brand. It is synonymous with the happenings in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The responsibility of that role weighs on her, particularly during breaking news.
“We are the station of record,” Sawkar said confidently. “When anything happens in this community or this state, people turn to WCCO Radio. I do not take that lightly … There are so many legendary voices besides Dave Lee,” she said. “Every time I step to that mic, I take it very seriously. It’s an honor.”
Four years in, the early alarm clock still stings, but the motivation to produce high-quality, listener-focused radio remains.
“I don’t love the alarm,” Sawkar admitted. “But once I get here, it is so much fun. You never know what’s going to happen. Every day, I feel grateful for this chance to host a show on this legendary station,” she concluded. “I get excited about the future and where we can take it next.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
This is when push comes to shove, and by that I don’t mean battling the crowds buying gifts at Walmart. Actually, I do mean that, though online shopping made those news clips of mobs of people bursting through the front doors of the Valley Stream, NY Walmart Supercenter at midnight on Black Friday to nab a cheap flat-panel TV mostly a thing of the past. No, I mean that the next few weeks, the Nielsen Holiday Book, are when talk radio hosts unlucky enough to pull active duty any time up to New Year’s Day have to find things to talk about that are appropriate for the season.
Appropriate, in this case, means that even the big news stories, with the likely exception of inflation, will not be top-of-mind even among the P1 crazies who usually come to you for validation of their world view. No, even they are thinking about buying gifts and family gatherings and family meals and family brawls when Cousin Liberal and Grandpa Conservative just can’t let it go, not even for one evening. Other than breaking news, and even that’s marginal now that “breaking news” has become a cliché and there’s a new crisis every ten minutes, people just aren’t looking for a mood breaker. They’re looking for a respite. Talk radio isn’t a respite.
But it can be. Here, allow me to offer some options for holiday-safe topics that are better than just running syndication and “best-of” for the next two weeks:
-Let’s ban suits!
-Sabrina Carpenter: Alien or AI?
-Anybody sign Walker Buehler yet? Should anybody sign Walker Buehler?
-“Bluey” is the best show on TV. Prove me wrong.
-Restaurant buffets should let you grab your food with your bare hands, for maximum herd immunity.
-Red Lobster or Olive Garden tonight? Cheddar biscuits or breadsticks?
-C-SPAN should be permitted to air occasional nudity. (Actually, they’re cable, so they can, and the public clamor for Mitch McConnell in the nude is deafening.)
-Turkey is overrated.
-No, I mean turkey, the bird/meat. Not the country, which is Türkiye now anyway.
-Let’s all admit it- we watched “Game of Thrones” because everyone else did, but we didn’t have a clue what was happening.
-Advent calendars need bigger payoffs. Little chocolates or airplane bottles of booze aren’t enough. Cash would be nice.
-You’re not really incensed about Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl, it’s just that the pundits say you are.
That’s more than enough for you to get through the holiday, plus it ensures you’ll never be hired in talk radio again. That should be your primary goal, since when the history of this era is written, talk radio will not fare well. If there’s a tiny chance that you won’t have to explain yourself to your grandkids, take it. If this ends in Nuremberg-style trials, it’s better to be a witness than a defendant, and much better not to be involved at all. Stephen Miller may have cemented himself in the Evil Guy Hall of Infamy, but you don’t want that noise for yourself.
That should take care of the rest of the year for you. Me? Well, I have actual news, but I’m gonna just save it for next week. You’re not going to want to miss this one. Or maybe you do. I’m not familiar with how much you care about my life. Just… make sure you check in next week. That’s all I’ll say. Not that it’ll be THAT much of a surprise, but still….
The 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit is coming to New York City and tickets are now officially On-Sale. This year’s show will be different from past events. It will feature individual days focused on sports media, news media, and music radio.
The dates are June 30, July 1 and July 2. Our venue is the SVA Theatre on West 23rd Street. Folks interested in coming can go here to secure their seats. All information about the show will live on BarrettMedia.com via the Summit tab at the top of the website. We are no longer running individual conference websites. It’s easier and better for our readers to find everything in one place.
We have three different options for those looking to attend he show.
First we have a 1-day pass, regularly priced at $199.99. Next is the 2-day pass, regularly priced at $324.99. Last, is the 3-day pass, regularly priced at $399.99. The News conference runs on June 30th, Sports on July 1st, and Music on July 2nd. After parties will follow all three shows.
But with the holidays upon us, we wanted to help make it a little lighter on your wallet. Ticket prices are reduced to $174.99, $299.99, and $374.99 through December 31st. Simply click on the Summit section and scroll down to see the three options and select the one that best fits your needs. You can also simply click the ad below to get to the same location.
We are currently accepting speaker submissions. An email went out last week to our database with details related to that process. We won’t make any official announcements on participants until January 2026.
Ten sessions will take place each day. The Premiere Networks Awards ceremonies will close all three shows. By the time we arrive in NYC, we expect to deliver an action packed show featuring a mixture of prominent talent, programmers, executives, and more.
We hope this little bit of savings is helpful, and wish all of you a Happy Holiday season.
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.
Sal Licata had been mum on his future with WFAN in the wake of news that he and Brandon Tierney would be replaced in the station’s lineup. He’s now confirmed he’s finished his tenure with the station.
While Tierney had shared that he would be exiting the station at the conclusion of next week, Licata hadn’t been as open about his future. Currently, WFAN has not revealed who would host the 12-5 AM timeslot when its new lineup begins. Licata had previous experience in that window.
However, on Friday afternoon, Licata shared a graphic on social media stating, “Life after WFAN”, confirming his departure from the Audacy New York sports talk station.
Licata’s confirmation that he’s departing WFAN comes after the station announced the return of Craig Carton in afternoon drive. He’ll pair with Chris McMonigle for a new show that will begin after the turn of the calendar. Due to Carton’s return, the station is moving Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber to the 10 AM-2 PM window Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata previously occupied.
It won’t be the last time Licata and Tierney address their exit. The duo announced plans for a live stage show — set for January 22nd — in advance of their final show together earlier today.
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While many current hosts on the Infinity Sports Network have announced they’re leaving the network amid changes to Westwood One Sports, Pat Boyle is remaining on the new network as co-host of Bet MGM Tonight.
Boyle joined the Infinity Sports Network earlier this year in the 2-6 AM ET timeslot. He also worked as Boyle the co-host of Sunday’s Bets on the BetMGM Network and anchors the Gridiron Gameday NFL show.
In a post on social media, Boyle shared that he will work alongside Brad Evans on Bet MGM Tonight, which will air from 6-11 PM ET.
“Huge thanks to Mitch Rosen, Bruce Gilbert, Chris Oliviero, Jeff Sottolano, Andrew Williams, Armen Williams, and so many others at Audacy and Westwood One for the opportunity,” Boyle said. “Pumped for the 1st show on December 29th. Let’s take this thing to the moon.”
Boyle becomes one of the apparent lone holdovers in the new Westwood One Sports lineup. Several hosts between Bet MGM Network and Infinity Sports Network, including Joe Ostrowski, Sam Panayotovich, Bill Reiter, and Bart Winkler have each independently shared they’re leaving the network.
Morning hosts Maggie Gray and Andrew Perloff — who will be replaced by newcomer Drake C. Toll in the daypart — have yet to announce their plans for when the changes take place.
Westwood One Sports has yet to announce who will helm the 12-3 PM ET window when the new branding begins.
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