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Country Radio Seminar Reveals Digital Music Summit Will Make A Return In 2026

BMM Staff
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Country Radio Seminar Reveals Digital Music Summit Will Make A Return In 2026

Country Radio Seminar (CRS) has announced the return of its Digital Music Summit (DMS) for CRS 2026. Promising an agenda focused on the fast-evolving intersection between digital platforms and country radio.

Set to feature a lineup of forward-thinking panels and networking events. The DMS will explore how streaming, social media, and traditional radio continue to shape today’s country music landscape. The summit aims to bring together industry professionals from across digital, data, and broadcast sectors for a day of collaboration and insight.

One of the event’s centerpiece sessions, The Showdown of the Top 20: Comparing the Social, Streaming, and Radio Charts of 2025, will feature leading voices from DSPs, social platforms, and radio. The discussion will examine how different measurement systems tell unique — yet interconnected — stories about audience engagement and artist success. Panelists will explore the behaviors of modern country fans, identifying areas where platforms overlap and where new opportunities exist for growth.

Another highlight, Pack Your Bags: Country’s Gone Global. This will take attendees on a virtual journey through the expanding international footprint of country music. As the genre gains traction worldwide, the session will focus on strategies for artists, labels, and programmers looking to capitalize on that global momentum.

The evolving sound and identity of country music will be tackled in Embracing the Change: Country Is Cross Pollinating and That’s Okay. This panel will showcase how collaborations across genres. From pop and rock to hip-hop and Americana — are energizing both artists and audiences. With fans increasingly open to hybrid sounds. Industry leaders will discuss how to navigate these creative intersections while staying true to country’s core storytelling roots.

Rounding out the slate is Nielsen Schmielsen: New Platforms for Audience Data & Analytics. This dives into the changing science of music discovery and measurement. With shifting consumer habits and new listening behaviors, traditional tools like Nielsen, Mediabase, and Luminate are now being complemented — and in some cases challenged — by emerging data sources. Experts will weigh the pros and cons of these modern analytics systems. Plus share how programmers can better leverage data to connect with the next generation of country fans.

The Digital Music Summit has become one of the most anticipated elements of CRS each year. Providing a hub for education, innovation, and industry dialogue.

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.

‘Thursday Night Football’ Viewership Continues Year-Over-Year Gains on Prime Video

BSM Staff
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‘Thursday Night Football’ Viewership Continues Year-Over-Year Gains on Prime Video

Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football showcasing the Los Angeles Chargers’ dominant win over the Minnesota Vikings averaged 13.12 million viewers on Prime Video, marking a 4% increase over last season’s comparable matchup. Despite the lopsided 27-point margin of victory—the second-largest in TNF on Prime history—the game became the sixth broadcast this season to post a year-over-year gain.

The strong performance extends a broader trend for Amazon’s NFL package. Over its last 30 comparable games, TNF on Prime has produced 24 year-over-year increases, a streak that continues to signal growth in both reach and engagement.

Thursday’s game peaked at 15.59 million viewers between 9:00 and 9:14 p.m. ET, the earliest peak audience of the 2025 season. Notably, every TNF broadcast this year has surpassed the 13-million-viewer mark—a feat that only happened once during the property’s inaugural 2022 campaign.

Through seven weeks, TNF is averaging 15.29 million viewers, maintaining its best season since moving to Prime Video and the highest average for the franchise on any network since 2015. That seven-week figure represents a 16% jump from last year’s season-to-date average and a 60% increase over 2022’s full-season numbers.

The viewership gains are cutting across every major demographic. TNF is averaging 3.05 million viewers in the 18–34 demo (up 17%), 7.15 million in 18–49 (up 19%), and 7.75 million in 25–54 (up 18%). Even among viewers 55 and older, the audience has grown by 11%. The median age of TNF’s audience stands at 48.1, nearly eight years younger than NFL viewership on traditional linear networks.

Beyond the games themselves, TNF’s studio programming is also drawing record attention. The pregame show TNF Tonight averaged 1.89 million viewers for the Chargers-Vikings broadcast and is up 16% year-over-year this season. Meanwhile, TNF Nightcap, which aired live from the new NBA on Prime studio in Culver City, is averaging 2.81 million viewers—a 38% surge over last season and a 68% increase from 2022.

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.

Barstool Sports Podcaster Cody “Beef” Franke Passes Away From ‘Sudden Medical Issue’

BSM Staff
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Barstool Sports Podcaster Cody “Beef” Franke Passes Away From ‘Sudden Medical Issue’

Barstool Sports is mourning the loss of one of its rising on-air personalities. Cody “Beef” Franke, a member of the company’s popular golf podcast Fore Play, died suddenly following a medical issue over the weekend.

Franke, who joined Fore Play in December 2024, quickly became a favorite among listeners for his easygoing humor and chemistry with the show’s hosts. The podcast — known for its mix of golf commentary, travel adventures, and irreverent banter — confirmed the heartbreaking news across its social media platforms.

“We are beyond devastated to announce that our good friend and cherished Barstool Sports colleague, Cody ‘Beef’ Franke, passed away from a sudden medical issue over the weekend,” the podcast wrote.

The post was met with an immediate outpouring of condolences from fans, golfers, and fellow media personalities. Many described Franke as a positive force behind the scenes and an emerging voice within Barstool’s growing sports content universe.

“Our colleague Beef passed away over the weekend,” said Dan “Big Cat” Katz on this afternoon’s airing of The Yak. “He was in the Dominican for a wedding I believe, and had a medical issue and passed away. Really sad, tragic.”

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy shared his memories of Franke in a post on social media.

“Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news. You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef,” wrote Portnoy. “It’s hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to live each day to its fullest.”

The digital content company was set to unveil their recorded Barstool Invitational golf tournament tonight, but have decided to delay the debut in respect to Franke’s passing.

Beef joined Barstool this year following a successful career as a PGA pro. He entertained the masses with his teaching videos and other content, such as one-club challenges.

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.

NFL on FOX Rules Analyst Mike Pereira Hints at Potential Retirement Following 2026 Season

BSM Staff
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NFL on FOX Rules Analyst Mike Pereira Hints at Potential Retirement Following 2026 Season

Mike Pereira, the veteran NFL on FOX rules analyst, hinted at the possibility of stepping away from his long-running role once his contract concludes following the 2026 NFL season. According to a feature story The Washington Post, the 75-year-old is contemplating that his current deal will be his last with the network he signed with 15 years ago.

“I don’t want to outlive my effectiveness. But I don’t know — who can predict the future?” Pereira said.

Pereira, who has served as FOX Sports’ lead rules analyst for since 2010. He has become a familiar presence to viewers seeking clarity on officiating decisions and game mechanics. His tenure coincides with an era in which league transparency on officiating has dramatically evolved.

“The philosophy of the league when I first got there, quite frankly, was to take anything officiating and sweep it under the rug and not talk about it. I think fans deserve to know,” Pereira explained. “There was never any transparency with officiating because, hell, half you couldn’t know before replay. There were far fewer questions. As people got the answers — whether they liked the answers or not — they liked it.”

Pereira’s commentary style has helped demystify complex calls, bringing fans a level of insight previously unseen in national broadcasts. His approach often balances technical explanation with the kind of measured perspective that appeals to both casual viewers and die-hard football fans.

FOX Sports has not made a statement on Pereira’s intentions following his contract expiration. The network also has not yet indicated whether it anticipates replacing Pereira in 2026 or what changes, if any, might accompany his eventual departure.

Pereira also serves as the network’s rule analyst for its coverage of the UFL and college football.

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.

MSNBC Sets Date For Transition to MS NOW Branding

BNM Staff
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MSNBC Sets Date For Transition to MS NOW Branding

MSNBC has previously announced that it will transition to a new brand — MS NOW — after it separates from NBC News. We now know when that transition will officially take place.

On Friday, November 15th, MSNBC will officially change away from its familiar branding it has featured for nearly 30 years, to adopt the MS NOW brand.

MS NOW is an acronym, standing for “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. The company says that the acronym “defines the news organization’s enduring mission: To cover breaking news as it happens, provide best-in-class opinion journalism rooted in fact, and report on unfolding events around the world.”

Furthermore, MSNBC says MS NOW will be rooted in 10 core principles for its journalists to follow and will guide its editorial decision-making.

Those tentpoles include integrity, accuracy, fairness, opinion, sources, emerging technologies, perspectives, transparency, independence, and “Who We Are.”

As part of its separation, along with other former cable properties from the NBCUniversal brands like CNBC, MS NOW has partnered with Sky News to bring international coverage and newsgathering to the U.S. cable network. In addition to the Washington Bureau, the cable network will have 11 international bureaus for reporting in its partnership with Sky News.

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.

Fox News’ Jesse Watters to Host First TV Interview with Erika Kirk

BNM Staff
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Fox News’ Jesse Watters to Host First TV Interview with Erika Kirk

Fox News host Jesse Watters is set to host an exclusive interview with Erika Kik on Wednesday, November 5th.

The interview with Kirk — who was named Turning Point USA CEO following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, on September 10th — will mark her first televised interview following her husband’s murder.

According to a statement from the network, Kirk will “discuss a range of topics including the impactful legacy that Charlie left on the nation, the power of faith in their lives, the timeline of what happened the day he was killed, and the future of Turning Point USA.”

In advance of the conversation, Watters will visit with Kirk at the Turning Point USA headquarters, as well as accompany the group on a tour stop at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday, October 29th.

At that stop, Watters will host his primetime Fox News program from the campus, with Vice President JD Vance making an appearance.

Additionally, FOX Nation is planning a multi-part documentary series to premiere on Friday, November 7th, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of Erika Kirk leading Turning Point USA in her husband’s absence.

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.

SiriusXM Inks Deal with MrBallen for Video Podcast

BNM Staff
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SiriusXM Inks Deal with MrBallen for Video Podcast

SiriusXM has announced it has signed YouTube star MrBallen to a multi-year agreement for a new video podcast with the company.

Since launching in 2022, The MrBallen Podcast has earned more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube, featuring billions of video views for the former Navy SEAL.

“I am thrilled and honored to be part of the SiriusXM family, and excited to welcome even more people around the world to the strange, dark, and mysterious community,” said John Allen, AKA MrBallen.

“Telling stories that entertain, inform, intrigue, excite, and maybe sometimes frighten the millions of people who share my passion for storytelling is a dream come true,” he continued. “Working with the incredible team at SiriusXM will allow me to take that dream to the next level, and I can’t wait to show our fans the new projects we’re developing together.”

“John Allen has built ‘The MrBallen Podcast’ into a global phenomenon,” said SiriusXM President and Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein. “His distinctive storytelling has captivated millions and set a high bar in the genre. This signing further underscores SiriusXM’s place as home to the biggest names in podcasting, whether they are audio or video stars.

“And as the premier destination for fans of mystery, suspense, and true crime storytelling, we’re excited to help John and the MrBallen team reach even more audiences,” Greenstein concluded.

As part of the agreement, SiriusXM receives exclusive advertising sales rights to both the audio and video editions of The MrBallen Podcast.

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.

John Dickerson to Leave CBS News At Year’s End

BNM Staff
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John Dickerson to Leave CBS News At Year’s End

CBS News anchor John Dickerson has announced that he’ll leave the network at the end of the calendar year, concluding a long tenure with the company.

Most recently, Dickerson has served as the co-anchor of CBS Evening News alongside Maurice DuBois, after the previous anchor, Norah O’Donnell, departed the show earlier this year.

In a post on social media, Dickerson revealed the news of his departure.

“At the end of this year, I will leave CBS, sixteen years after I sat in as Face the Nation anchor for the first time,” Dickerson shared. “I am extremely grateful for all that CBS gave me — the work, the audience’s attention and the honor of being a part of the network’s history — and I am grateful for my dear colleagues who’ve made me a better journalist and a better human. I will miss you.”

The 57-year-old Dickerson becomes the first high-profile talent to exit the network news brand since the company was acquired as part of a multi-billion-dollar deal by Skydance.

The news of Dickerson’s exit comes after reports surfaced sharing that new CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss is looking at shaking up the network’s nightly newscast amid slumping ratings. O’Donnell had been floated to make a possible return to the program, while Fox News anchor Bret Baier rests at the top of her list, a report claimed.

In a statement, CBS News President Tom Cibrowski said Dickerson “epitomizes the very best of journalism.” Cibrowksi added that John Dickerson will continue to helm CBS Evening News until the holiday season in late December.  

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.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred: Goal Is Focusing on Long Haul With TV Rights Deals

BSM Staff
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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred: Goal Is Focusing on Long Haul With TV Rights Deals

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league is committed to making it easier for fans to find and watch baseball games. Acknowledging the growing frustration with how fragmented baseball’s television landscape has become.

Speaking on Mad Dog Sports Radio on SiriusXM, Manfred admitted that “discoverability is an issue” as fans continue to navigate a confusing web of regional sports networks, streaming platforms, and blackout restrictions that vary by market.

“Look, absolutely no question that discoverability is an issue,” Manfred said speaking with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. “All I would say to our fans is this. In a period of real disruption on the media side, it is important to try different things to figure out exactly what’s gonna work for us over the long haul. And I can tell you 100% when we go to the market in 2028 with all of our rights. A principal concern will be to narrow the number of places that people need to go, and to eliminate blackouts. The reach and discoverability for our fans, I’m 100% committed to making better in 2028.”

The comments come at a pivotal time for baseball’s media strategy. Regional sports networks, long the backbone of MLB’s local television model, continue to face instability. The league also announced at an event last month that they are close to deals with ESPN for a regular-season package. Also with Comcast’s NBCUniversal for the wild card series and Sunday night regular-season games, and with Netflix for the All-Star Home Run Derby. These are all in part due to ESPN and MLB mutual opt-out announcement earlier this year.

Manfred also said a deal for in-market rights for Arizona, Cleveland, Colorado, Minnesota and San Diego is also close.

The commissioner said the disruption in the RSN space is “clearly” ongoing. But that MLB has worked to ensure fans can still watch their favorite teams through both traditional and direct-to-consumer options.

“There is clearly disruption in the regional business,” Manfred said. “The good thing from the fan’s perspective is that FanDuel Sports — now, they keep changing their name — has continued in business. Some clubs have elected to stay there. Every club in baseball always has the option of coming with us. We can do their games in a moment’s notice.”

He added that fans should have confidence knowing there will continue to be multiple ways to access games.

“The important thing really for the fans is they know there’s gonna be a cable product available in every single market,” he said. “And with the exception of Houston. There will be a direct-to-consumer product available for those who’ve opted out of the cable bundle. And that’s a good thing in terms of discoverability.”

With positioning national and local rights up for renewal in 2028. MLB appears ready to use that milestone as a reset point. Manfred’s latest comments make clear the league’s goal is to simplify where fans can watch games and finally put an end to one of the sport’s most persistent frustrations — blackouts.

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.

Netflix CEO Greg Peters: Podcast Deal with Spotify Based on ‘Demand Signals We Get From Our Members’

BNM Staff
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Netflix CEO Greg Peters: Podcast Deal with Spotify Based on ‘Demand Signals We Get From Our Members’

Netflix and Spotify recently announced a partnership to bring video podcasts to the streaming giant. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters is sharing insight into the genesis of the deal.

As part of the deal, podcasts from the true crime, culture and lifestyle, and sports podcasts — namely from The Ringer, founded by Bill Simons and sold to Spotify in 2020 for $250 million — will be headed to Netflix.

In the company’s investor call, Peters shared that the decision to partner with Spotify was driven by audience demand.

“We’re going to build into this category like we do with our other categories based on demand signals that we get from our members,” Co-CEO Greg Peters said. “We see this as really the opportunity to integrate high-quality video podcasts that broadens the Netflix offering beyond all the incredible films and series, beyond the live events that we are building, stand-up specials, and games. We hope that ultimately reinforces our value as the most important service for your entertainment needs.”

Also included on the call was a note from Peters about advertising. He shared that the company fully expects its advertising revenue to double in 2025 compared to last year, adding that the streaming service will feature interactive ads later this year.

“Advertisers are excited about our growing scale. We’ve got a highly attentive and engaged audience,” Peters said. “The rollout of our ad tech stack means we’ve got more formats, we’ve got more measurement, we’ve got more ways to buy. Our slate is a critical and important source of competitive differentiation. I would say we are feeling good about our growth trajectory.”

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.

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