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Cumulus Media vs. Nielsen: When the Scorekeeper Sells the Scoreboard

Phil Becker
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Cumulus Media vs. Nielsen: When the Scorekeeper Sells the Scoreboard

Cumulus Media just sued Nielsen. In plain English (or plane English, if you’re reading this on your way to NAB), Cumulus says Nielsen is a monopoly abusing its power.

According to the complaint, Nielsen is allegedly forcing broadcasters to buy expensive local ratings data they don’t want in order to access the national ratings data they can’t live without. Without it, Cumulus’s national network, Westwood One, claims it would be flying blind, unable to prove audience reach to advertisers.

In legal terms, it’s called tying. In radio terms, it’s like being told you can’t buy a spot schedule unless you also purchase the entire station.

If you’ve ever tried to sell national radio advertising without Nielsen numbers, you know it’s like trying to sell air — everyone needs it, but no one’s buying it from you. (And yes, technically radio already sells air — but you get the point.)

“Less Is More” – Again

According to Cumulus, this isn’t just about their billing; it’s billions in lost opportunity for every operator trying to keep the lights on. The company claims Nielsen has been raising prices simply because it can, downgrading what it delivers, and blocking anyone else from even getting in the stadium.

Left unchecked, Cumulus says, the whole industry risks fewer choices, higher costs, and a ratings economy where everyone’s paying more to get less. And if that phrase sounds familiar, it should: the irony writes itself. Only this time, “Less Is More” isn’t a programming strategy; it’s the bill.

The Monopoly Mix

For decades, Nielsen has been radio’s referee, the scoreboard everyone agrees to use, whether they like the calls or not. It sells two core products:

Local Ratings — showing how stations perform in each city.

National Ratings (Nationwide) — showing how networks like Westwood One perform across the country.

Every advertiser, agency, and broadcaster depends on those numbers to price, plan, and prove their reach.

But according to Cumulus, Nielsen has crossed the line from measuring performance to monetizing dependence. The lawsuit alleges Nielsen is using its monopoly to force radio companies to buy both products together, even if they only want one. In other words, if you want to play in the national game, you have to pay for every local scoreboard too.

The “Buy One, Buy All” Rule

In 2024, Nielsen allegedly told Cumulus:

(Scene: evil corporatey voice) “If you don’t buy our local ratings everywhere you own a station, we’ll delete those cities from your national data.”

(cue) mwahahaha laugh

Translation: skip Los Angeles, and your national report suddenly pretends L.A. doesn’t exist, like Google Maps pretending California stops at Fresno, and Fresno already has enough dead ends.

On a July 2025 call with Cumulus, Rich Tunkel, Nielsen Audio’s Managing Director, reportedly admitted the result would be “Swiss cheese.” He allegedly went on to say the product would “have holes” and wouldn’t be a “real” or a “useful” ratings product.

And no one — not McDonald’s, not Home Depot — wants to buy ads based on Swiss-cheese data. There’s a reason McDonald’s skipped Swiss on the Big Mac: the holes ruin the taste. According to Cumulus, Nielsen still thinks it’s the secret sauce.

So Cumulus says it faced two bad options:

Overpay for local data it didn’t want or need

or

Lose the ability to sell national ads.

Without those subscriptions, Cumulus alleges Nielsen turned them into “Cume-You-Less.”

And the real cost isn’t just financial; it’s human. Those dollars, Cumulus suggests, could have funded marketing, programmers, talent, and creatives who keep radio alive. But the only thing station owners are getting in their Happy Meals, they say, is another bill.

The Price Hike Heard ‘Round The Dial

Cumulus claims Nielsen already hiked prices 36 percent in 2022. When Cumulus pushed back, Nielsen allegedly replied:

(Scene: Skeletor voice) “Fine, buy the national data alone for ten times the price.” we can only assume (cue Skeletor laugh). That’s like your cable company saying, “Sure, cancel TV — but now Wi-Fi’s $2,000.”

Meanwhile In The Land Of Free Markets

There is another ratings provider, Eastlan Rating, but Cumulus alleges Nielsen’s earlier Subscriber First policy already kneecapped them. Stations that didn’t buy Nielsen’s data were, according to the lawsuit, erased from its published rankings.

Why It Matters

Cumulus claims Nielsen’s conduct has distorted hundreds of millions of dollars in radio commerce, degrading product quality, inflating prices, and blocking competitors from gaining ground.

The Phil-Osophy on this isn’t just corporate drama; it’s about who defines truth in audio. If one company controls who counts, what counts, and how much it costs to be counted, then ratings stop measuring the market — they become the market.

The Bigger Signal

If the courts agree, it could reset how radio — and maybe all media — measures audiences in a world where AI and streaming already do it faster, cheaper, and smarter.

Today, platforms like iHeart’s app already know more about their fans than any diary or meter ever could. They can reach a much larger sample size at a fraction of the cost, then see when a listener skips, shares, pauses, replays, favorites, or taps through a live stream. That’s not a sample; that’s a census.

AI-driven platforms track engagement in real time, tie listening behavior to commerce, and even predict audience flow minute by minute. The same apps that play the music, deliver the news, or stream live sports will become the measurement serving as both playout system and analytics engine.

Nielsen tells radio estimates of who is listening. The next generation of tools will tell radio why they’re listening, how long, and what made them stay. The new challenge for programmers won’t be figuring out who’s tuned in; it’ll be knowing why they didn’t tune out.

What becomes of this lawsuit — who wins, who loses, who settles — is still to be determined. But one measurement isn’t changing anytime soon:

PPM: People Paying More.

(cue Phil Becker laugh), not necessarily evil, but there’s a hint of villainy

All statements describing Nielsen’s alleged conduct are drawn from the complaint filed by Cumulus Media New Holdings Inc. against The Nielsen Company (US) LLC on October 16, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Nielsen had not yet filed its response at the time of publication. 

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.

How the ‘When We Were Young’ Music Festival Proved Emo and Alt-Rock Nostalgia Is No More

Mike Gunz
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How the ‘When We Were Young’ Music Festival Proved Emo and Alt-Rock Nostalgia Is No More

A sea of over 120,000 emo and alt-rock music fans took over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds this past weekend for another successful “When We Were Young” music festival. This year’s festival—the fourth straight year that featured emo and rock fans flocking to Vegas, black eyeliner, skinny jeans and all—had a different feel to it.

It proved that this music scene has moved on from a “nostalgia” play to one full of current relevancy and importance.

It also provided another example to both Alt Radio and Rock Radio airplay of why this music still matters.

Headlined by the likes of Blink-182, All Time Low, Avril Lavigne and Panic! At the Disco, as well as harder rock acts like Knocked Loose, letlive., and Ice Nine Kills, this year’s WWWY allowed their peers—and also “the next tier” of rockers—to showcase why they are still around and, for many of them, bigger than ever before.

Nostalgia To Now

“It’s interesting. Everyone throws around that word ‘nostalgia,’ and for me, I prefer to use the word ‘reunion,’” Boys Like Girls bassist Greg James told me. “Boys Like Girls’ first album came out in 2006, so we’ve far surpassed, I guess, the typical lifespan of a band or an artist… so it feels like a blessing to be able to still be doing this.”

“We’re not a nostalgia act. We’re not going to come and play a festival and phone it in. We are going to keep writing music and keep being a band and doing what we love to do,” James continued.

That blessing has turned into blessings not only for BLG—who earlier this year put out arguably their best record ever and wrapped up a direct-support arena and baseball stadium run with The Jonas Brothers tour—but also for bands such as Yellowcard. The “Ocean Avenue” pop rockers just received their first No. 1 Alt Radio hit with their new song “Better Days,” despite being around for over 20 years.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s just nostalgia anymore. It might have been three years ago when we first came back, we kind of felt like, ‘Is that all this is? Do we hug it out and walk away again?’ Because [at the time] that was the biggest tour we’d ever done,” Yellowcard lead singer Ryan Key told Alternative Press.

“I think both Yellowcard and so many of our peers are having such a special moment that feels like it’s going to keep on. It’s going to carry on. This isn’t just a short, temporary yearning for nostalgia from fans. I think there’s something really happening here, and the fact that we’re all in our 40s doing this again—it’s surreal,” Key added.

All Time Low Reaches All Time High

One needs to look no further than the dominance of Baltimore natives All Time Low.

Formed in 2003, the band has been synonymous with the pop rock and pop punk world. Only in their case—they never stopped.

That drive and perseverance from the band and their team were clearly evident on Friday night when the band played a pop-up concert to over 20,000 fans outside the Circa Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, essentially shutting down Las Vegas in celebration of their Everyone’s Talking album release.

Known for their songs such as “Dear Maria, Count Me In,” ATL’s new album features “The Weather,” which is currently at No. 3 on the Alternative Airplay charts.

This Doesn’t Just Happen

This is the culmination of a number of bands staying with it, alongside the return of others now releasing new music and rediscovering the fire that made them realize why they did it in the first place—and it’s something special.

“As a publicist who’s been working in this genre since I graduated college in 2005 and have never stopped, this weekend at WWWYF and the last four years overall have proven that emo, pop punk, post-hard, and rock will never die. It’s a community like no other, being passed down like a family heirloom from generation to generation,” Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers of Big Picture Media and Zodhiac Records told me.

“I personally brought my own 12-year-old daughter this year, and for her to see some of her favorite bands along with 70,000 people—and then be able to go backstage and tell them how incredible their set was—was really heartwarming. She of course loved Avril Lavigne, Plain White T’s, and Weezer, but walked away being Story of the Year’s newest biggest fan as well!”

Stop The Gatekeeping

During both their WWWY sets, All Time Low brought out rock band I Prevail lead singer Eric Vanlerberghe to sing their collaborative hit “Hate This Song.”

Do you know who didn’t hate the song? The fans—who knew every word and went wild during it.

Many of those same fans would then catch I Prevail, who have multiple No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay singles themselves.

Whereas other genres of music are gatekeeping, this one isn’t. Both the bands and the fans have no shame belting out Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” while also knowing every lyric to Knocked Loose’s songs.

And if the fans don’t, maybe airplay and the music industry shouldn’t either.

“This weekend made me realize this scene isn’t just music—it’s family,” The Summer Set lead singer Brian Dales told me.

The powers-that-be within the music industry and music airplay can learn a lot from the success of the last four years of When We Were Young Festival and the comeback for the Warped Tour.

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.

Why Ken Carman Believes Ultimate Success Lies in How Much You Choose To Listen

John Mamola
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Why Ken Carman Believes Ultimate Success Lies in How Much You Choose To Listen

Cleveland, Ohio, lies in the heart of the country, built on American manufacturing. It’s a modern-era community filled with commerce, created off the backs of the blue-collar people who called “The Land” their home. A Midwest mentality of treating others as you would want to be treated, working hard for your family, and embracing your neighbor builds community. For a decade, Ken Carman has represented the people of Ohio by hosting morning drive radio on Audacy’s 92.3 The Fan.

“Cleveland is a traditional city. It’s also a very loyal city,” remarked Carman. “I want to do a good job to do right by my family. You want to be successful, of course, but I also feel a responsibility to my managers’ families as well.”

Carman is a native of Ohio who found his passion for radio at a very young age. A graduate of the University of Akron, he worked his way up through play-by-play and reporting work to earn a weeknight hosting role on The Fan in 2011. Less than four years later, at the age of 29. Carman was elevated to morning drive on the station and has never looked back.

“I think that some of us lose what made us get the spot in the first place,” said Carman. “I think a lot of guys who listened to me at night ended up staying with me. We’ve grown up together, and it’s helped me stay involved with the community.”

Leaning on his Ohio roots and Midwestern background, Carman believes in the importance of understanding your audience. While being a host on The Fan provides much access that the normal Cleveland sports fan may not have. It’s not lost on him during his weekday morning show that he is a vessel for connection to the teams themselves.

“This is a conversation. This isn’t a talking to. We all have confidence in our opinions, but this is a shared experience. This isn’t some lecture in a hall,” said Carman. “I’m big on the relationship you have with your listeners and humility as best you can. I always remind myself that this could all be taken away from me one way or another.”

Finding Chemistry With Anthony Lima

For the last nine years in morning drive, Carman has worked alongside Anthony Lima. Who earned the position after serving as an update anchor and weekend host on The Fan for several years. Carman considers Lima the morning show’s third producer. Always having a pulse for the city and what listeners talk about while knowing how to maneuver Carman as a tandem to elevate their game.

“There’s a lot of guys who love sports, and so they debate it. Lima loves to debate, and he happens to like sports,” noted Carman. “That makes him a very difficult person to be on the air with.”

Carman described the relationship between the two as one that never holds a grudge. While there are many insults thrown at one another on the air, with jokes about relationships and challenges made, he says he couldn’t imagine a better setup for mornings in Cleveland.

“He’s always just understood it’s the show. It’s tough because he’s one in a million,” explained Carman. “I don’t know if I could do the show as the show and be as comfortable with anyone else.”

The Importance of Being Coachable

With the success of the program leading to the tandem’s longevity with the station, the early beginnings of the program were rough. The show was formed by former program director Andy Roth, who now serves as the brand manager at 680 The Fan in Atlanta. Carman discussed those early days as difficult but credited Roth’s leadership and guidance for getting the program to where it is today.

“Andy Roth, along with Dave Popovich [former Audacy VP of Programming], those guys saved us from ourselves. We thought we knew the answers in the beginning,” explained Carman. “Cleveland is a traditional city; we find things we like and stick with them. We’re traditional Midwest people, and we had to earn their trust. Andy did everything he could, and it was a daily grind.”

Carman referenced constant coaching from his management team and remained steadfast in receiving and executing the lessons being taught.

“This is bigger than me. When I go out there, I am representing my station and our sponsors. When I go on the air, I’m representing the city,” said Carman. “We’re not goofing around here. This is a very serious thing. Cleveland has a very serious history with radio and entertainment. I was glad that they were so hard on us so early because it made us so much better and more respectful of what we do.”

Following that guidance early in his career, Carman understands that he’s not perfect. That understanding guides him in how he addresses the success of the local teams in Cleveland, a town that hasn’t seen a Super Bowl victory ever and a World Series championship since the Truman administration.

A Critical Voice of Your Partners

92.3 The Fan serves as the local radio flagship of the Cleveland Browns, a team with two winning seasons during Carman’s tenure hosting morning drive. While he admits that it’s impossible not to say something you want to take back, Carman says he never calls for firings and tries not to say things on the air that he wouldn’t say to someone’s face.

“We do talk a lot about the Browns. They make it really easy. They’ve had some struggles since 1999, and I’ve been meaner toward the Browns than the other two professional teams combined,” remarked Carman. “They’ve never said anything in my general direction, and I can’t think of anyone else’s direction that they’ve had a problem with.”

The goal is to never get personal with coaches or players of any team in town, out of respect for the job they perform. Although he’s been mistaken for saying something that other hosts in the city have said, Carman takes the role seriously, holding the team accountable out of respect for their fanbase.

“I think a lot of guys who do what we do have given us a bad name. They don’t go to practice or games, and don’t try to go into the locker room and understand people. They just rip them to say nasty things and get a reaction,” noted Carman. “I want what’s best for the teams. I don’t want them to lose. But when they lose, we have to talk about it, and it’s not always a rosy thing. They respect that.”

Reaching New Audience

Recently, 92.3 The Fan began streaming The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima on YouTube, providing listeners with another opportunity to catch the program live and get a peek behind the curtain. Carman noted he wanted the video feed for some time but is appreciative for the opportunity to have it, despite the possibility it could affect ratings credit.

“I’m a radio guy. I defend radio. But I can’t deny the reach and the fun that we get from people watching on YouTube,” said Carman. “There’s a downside to everything, a drawback, and nothing’s perfect, or everyone would do it. If anyone’s hesitant about doing it, I think they’re going to be left behind. This is part of the future of what our business is all about.”

The live video feed has expanded the 92.3 The Fan brand to a new digital audience that prefers video over audio. With this new way to consume the show, Carman has been amazed by the feedback from viewers who believe the reactions on the program are staged. In response, Carman believes the video feed allows the listener to see another side of the show.

“I love it because it provides authenticity. This is real,” said Carman. “Now that you can see video, you know I mean what I’m saying. I think it brings people more into the show because of our strong personalities.”

Always Remaining Humble

Still in his late 30s, Carman has accumulated a lifetime of experiences during his tenure at 92.3 The Fan. In between breaking down the latest headlines with the Browns or Guardians, he spends just as much time showcasing local high school football products around the Cleveland area. He considers it an honor that local communities welcome him with open arms and a desire to showcase the best of what their part of the city provides.

“Cleveland is a big, small town. It’s a big city with a small-town feel. It seems like everyone knows each other and everyone knows who you are,” said Carman. “A lot of what we do is word of mouth, and high school football helps that so much.”

As he continues to count the days until his 40th birthday, this self-proclaimed “radio nerd” feels more confident about the sports radio industry today than a couple of years ago. There was a time early in his career when he nearly lost all hope for a future in radio, but through it all, Ken Carman leans on connection to guide him in mornings on 92.3 The Fan.

“I understand that companies and industries need to go through pivots. It’s not lost on me that this is a performance business,” said Carman. “It’s still the same business it’s always been. If you can connect with people, you’ll stay.”

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.

Why Pat McAfee’s Latest Comments Prove He Still Can’t Handle Criticism

John Mamola
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Why Pat McAfee’s Latest Comments Prove He Still Can’t Handle Criticism

“With great power comes great responsibility.” The immortal words that Uncle Ben told a young Peter Parker as advice on how to approach life. When you work so hard for so long, you tend to be awarded opportunities for being a good soldier. With opportunities come more responsibility, a changed focus, and a pivot in your approach with your management team. Pat McAfee is, without a doubt, the most interesting and polarizing singular person in sports media, and he’s continuing to learn from the wisdom of Uncle Ben.

McAfee’s persona has never changed from his former football career to his growing sports media platform. He’s the renegade, the outsider, the enigma—all of which he wants to be. The daily preaching at the close of his show, telling someone you love or a friend something nice to change their life, has become gospel for his followers.

For the brash and outspoken façade that McAfee presents—believing in fun, sports, and football—there continue to be underlying signs of weakness. Time and again, McAfee takes aim at his critics, whether external or internal, not hesitating to unleash his personal feelings about his doubters because there has yet to be a cost. His latest shot should provide reflection, but will it?

Success allows space; revenue grants rope. McAfee has achieved both and has been awarded the permissions he’s been given by executives at ESPN. He draws attention, social engagement, and articles and columns to be written and podcasts to be recorded mentioning his name.

Maybe all publicity is good publicity.

Another McAfee Mis-Step

McAfee’s latest comments, which he shared on his Instagram story Tuesday morning, were just the latest episode showcasing how thin-skinned the former Colts punter truly is. When referencing an Instagram reel of his opening comments on this past weekend’s College GameDay from Eugene, Oregon, McAfee was curious to see the comments on the digital reel.

He then created a picture by cherry-picking several comments made by what he termed as “old white people” to go with the track “What’s Up, What’s Haapnin’” by T.I., a song filled with shoutouts to the rapper’s “haters.”

McAfee then shot a video of himself sharing his personal feelings on the picture he created.

“I’d like to let all you old f**ks know, I hate you too. Never got along with that class of people—teachers, principals, you name it. Since I was a kid, always hated me. It’s kind of a part of life now,” said McAfee.

In short, McAfee took criticisms of his gesture to heart and went on to blast demographics of the College GameDay and ESPN audience. Last time I checked, old white people really enjoy watching sports and ESPN. Then to call out teachers and principals when the show you work on literally broadcasts from college campuses around the country—well, that’s quite a choice.

Let’s continue.

“If you think about old white people and old ESPN people, those are really the people that hate me the most at this stage of life,” McAfee continued.

Another Shot At ESPN

McAfee’s resume calling out ESPN management is well-documented. From the time McAfee called out by name former ESPN executive Norby Williamson to the time he blasted ESPN for a Top 100 Athletes of the 21st Century list, calling it “the epitome of everything that everybody hates about ESPN” and “a s**tshow.”

More recently, McAfee called out another member of ESPN over a report that Adam Schefter was banned from the McAfee program. Then, following the WWE partnership with ESPN, McAfee took the shine off that by taking shots at “suits” within the network, saying the agreement will “outlive the dinosaurs currently guarding the desks in Bristol.”

It should be no surprise that McAfee’s latest comments will be handled the same way as the litany of other ones.

Let’s continue.

“Throughout the entirety, old whites and the old ESPN people over the last, like, three years have really hated me. That’s who all the producers are of GameDay, too. So now—it’s been a fun run. College football is great,” said McAfee on his Instagram story.

Now, not only is McAfee shooting his shot at “old white people” and “old ESPN people,” but now he’s lumping in the staff who assist him on the road with the signature college football pregame show on television.

McAfee Can Change

McAfee has earned the attention he’s gotten. His viewership and digital numbers were at all-time highs in the month of September for himself and the network. His value as a media entity continues to rise every hour as his footprint continues to grow. He’s a self-taught millionaire who built an empire with dedication and hard work—and some luck along the way. McAfee is a trailblazer that many creators look toward as they attempt to replicate his success.

The one item that he hasn’t learned to do is the hardest thing to learn in sports media: having thick skin. No matter how successful he becomes, there will be doubters. There will be critics, and there will be “haters” of his success. The ones who move past the hate are the ones who shine brightest.

The adage I used playing sports was, instead of talking s**t back, just point to the scoreboard.

McAfee should let his scoreboard speak for itself instead of continuing to take shots at his partner, the employees of his partner, and the viewership of his partner.

After all, with great power comes great responsibility.

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.

Could News/Talk Radio Be Helped By Taking This Page From the Sports Radio Playbook?

Garrett Searight
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Could News/Talk Radio Be Helped By Taking This Page From the Sports Radio Playbook?

If you work in news/talk radio, here’s a question worth asking: why aren’t the Fox News and Newsmax brands more ubiquitous in the space?

It’s not like the model doesn’t exist. In fact, there’s already a successful blueprint sitting right there in the sports world. ESPN Radio and FOX Sports Radio have shown for decades that pairing a powerful national brand with local stations is a win for everyone involved.

When ESPN Radio launched, it wasn’t just a logo on a mic flag. It was the Worldwide Leader putting its full weight behind the product. They produced shows, built a national network, and gave affiliates prestige and credibility. If your station carried ESPN Radio, listeners instantly knew what to expect, and the brand carried plenty of credibility with both the audience and advertisers. It meant big guests, national reach, and a consistent identity.

FOX Sports Radio, while a little different, has also carved out a strong position. It’s run primarily through iHeartMedia and Premiere Networks, meaning it’s more of a licensing partnership than a fully integrated operation. But even that approach has paid off. There are countless FOX Sports Radio stations across the country, from major markets to small towns, all benefiting from the association with a recognizable, respected brand.

So here’s the obvious question: if the sports world can pull this off so effectively, why can’t the news/talk radio world do the same?

Fox News and Newsmax already dominate the conservative media landscape on television. Their names carry enormous weight with the same audiences that tune into talk radio every day. Yet their presence on the radio side is surprisingly small. Yes, they each have radio divisions, but let’s be honest — they pale in comparison to their sports counterparts.

If ESPN can have hundreds of affiliates branded as ESPN Radio, and FOX Sports can have a sprawling network of FOX Sports Radio stations, why can’t we have Newsmax 92.3 in Fargo or Fox News 570 in Birmingham?

Imagine the synergy: local stations would gain instant credibility and national branding, while Fox News and Newsmax would expand their reach and visibility in markets where traditional TV ratings might be shrinking. Building loyalty in the conservative audience in every facet imaginable has to be a win, correct?

The audience is already there. News/talk radio listeners are loyal, habitual, and passionate about their preferred sources of information. They trust the hosts, the tone, and the perspective. What they don’t have is a cohesive network that ties those values together under one massive, recognizable banner.

From a branding perspective, it’s baffling to me that neither Fox News nor Newsmax has jumped at this. They spend millions producing digital content, streaming platforms, and TV shows — but radio remains at least somewhat of an afterthought. It shouldn’t be. Radio is still one of the most personal, habit-forming forms of media. It’s in cars, offices, and kitchens. It’s local. It’s live. And for conservative media brands looking to expand influence, it’s still fertile ground.

Plus, think about the marketing potential. “Fox News Radio 570” or “Newsmax Radio 101.9” plastered across dozens — or hundreds — of towns would reinforce the brand every single day. It would make their names as common on the dial as ESPN’s is in sports. That kind of constant exposure pays dividends. It drives digital traffic, boosts TV viewership, and deepens listener loyalty.

And for the stations themselves, the benefits are obvious. Branding consistency. National promotional support. Access to high-quality syndicated content. The ability to plug into breaking news coverage from one of the biggest names in the business. Sure, there are plenty of heritage news/talk brands that wouldn’t dare move away from call letters that carry large weight in the marketplaces. But for the smaller stations, that feature mostly nationally syndicated shows? It’s an easy sell to advertisers, too. Local businesses know the Fox News or Newsmax name. That kind of built-in trust is hard to beat.

The infrastructure already exists. iHeartMedia, Cumulus, and others have decades of experience running national-branded networks. The pipeline for content distribution is well established. All that’s missing is the decision from Fox News or Newsmax leadership to make it a priority — to see radio not as a side project, but as a strategic expansion.

At a time when local radio is fighting for identity and national brands are searching for new ways to stay relevant, this seems like an obvious opportunity. Fox News and Newsmax have the audience, the credibility, and the resources. News/talk radio has the reach, the relationships, and the trust.

Putting those pieces together would create something powerful — a network that’s local in presence but national in strength.

Wouldn’t that make sense for everyone involved?

Just a thought.

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.

How Newsmax’s Tom and Deneen Borelli Tag Team Conservative Commentary From Different Backgrounds

Garrett Searight
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How Newsmax’s Tom and Deneen Borelli Tag Team Conservative Commentary From Different Backgrounds

There are plenty of married couples working in media. But Newsmax contributors and hosts Tom and Deenen Borelli aren’t your average married media couple.

“We’re very unique,” Tom Borelli said. “Not only are we a married couple, we’re obviously interracial, and conservative. There’s not many of those out there.”

Their backgrounds are quite dissimilar, too. Tom Borelli has a PhD in biochemistry and an undergraduate degree in microbiology. Deneen Borelli has a background in marketing.

And yet, they’ve found their way to Newsmax, helping shape the discussion in a variety of ways, on a variety of topics.

“One of the things that’s rewarding for me is the ability and the reach that we’re able to get, whether it’s national or international,” Deneen Borelli said. “The feedback that we get from people is that we are relatable, we break things down in an easy, understandable way.”

Both Tom and Deneen Borelli make regular appearances on Newsmax, both in the company’s New York studios and the studio they built in their Connecticut home.

It’s been a game-changer for the duo.

“It’s epic, really, because people don’t understand you gotta make that trip from home, so whether it’s driving or taking the train, that’s working itself,” Deneen shared. “And then you gotta make sure you’re prepared. With me, it’s the hair and makeup routine. So there’s a lot of variables involved. But having a home studio is very, very helpful.”

While Tom Borelli has a background in science, you’d think that would be the largest area he could contribute to Newsmax. But he doesn’t see it that way.

“When something is breaking news, plenty of people on the outside say, ‘Well you know what they’re gonna ask you, right? And you’re well prepared and you have it in the teleprompter, and you’re reading from the script that they give you?’ No,” he said with a chuckle.

“I think the most fun and challenging part for me is when we don’t know what we’re gonna be asked. Or if it’s breaking news, sometimes I’m told what the topics are, but many times you don’t know. And that’s where I’m able to draw from my past experiences.

“I worked in science, I worked in corporate America, in corporate affairs. At one point, I was a shareholder activist, challenging CEOs with their liberal policies that I believed were bad for their shareholders, as well as the country,” he continued. “I could draw from a lot of different experiences when they were talking about woke companies, I had been there and done that.”

The Borelli’s joked that plenty of married couples admit they wouldn’t be able to work with their spouse. But for Tom and Deneen, it just works flawlessly.

“We make a great team. It’s great that we have such an opportunity to work together,” Deneen said, with Tom adding,”I don’t think there’s really any really policy differences we have on the major issues.”

Tom Borelli has been with Newsmax since the cable network launched in 2014. Meanwhile, Deneen joined the channel after previously working in a similar capacity for nearly 15 years at Fox News.

When asked what’s on the horizon for the duo, they said there is hopefully a chance to continue to working together on the same programs, offering their insight and analysis on the hot-button topics most Americans care about.

“We never would’ve predicted we’d be doing this,” Tom said. “And we certainly would never have predicted we’d be doing this together. But we just hope there’s more opportunity for us co-hosting together. We get a real kick out of that because we have chemistry sometimes,” he said, laughingly. “She still likes me.”

“It’s a coin-flip,” Deneen concluded, laughing as well.

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.

The TV Revolt Against Pete Hegseth’s Gag Order Should Be a Wake-Up Call

Lauren Ashburn
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The TV Revolt Against Pete Hegseth’s Gag Order Should Be a Wake-Up Call

In an unprecedented show of force, all the major television networks and other media outlets staged a walkout after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth insisted they sign a document forcing them to post no stories, even if unclassified, without explicit approval from Pentagon officials.

When they refused to sign, he confiscated their press passes and barred them from entering the building.

What a blatant violation of First Amendment rights and a disgusting attempt to hide the inner workings of the $1 trillion Pentagon budget, which pays for 3.4 million civilian and military workers around the world. What do they have to hide? Apparently, plenty.

The networks — CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, ABC, Newsmax, and even Fox News — where Pete Hegseth ironically worked as a weekend co-host — decried the move by joining others in a statement of solidarity against the ban. Bret Baier, who covered the Pentagon for six and a half years, condemned it, saying, “And we knew not to, you don’t walk into the tank, and the classified areas are off limits. We obviously were always trying to get the story from different elements.”

Jack Keane, a retired four-star Army general and Fox News analyst, also joined in the criticism. “What they’re really doing, they want to spoon-feed information to the journalist, and that would be their story. That’s not journalism.”

The Press Freedom Association, which represents 56 outlets, called it “a dark day for news media.” Many media outlets added to the memo with their own statements. The New York Times said it “threatens to punish them for ordinary news gathering protected by the First Amendment.”

Only 15 reporters remain in the building, including the right-wing TV network OAN.

Early on, even President Trump said that Pete Hegseth had gone too far. Later, he made a U-turn and backed the secretary. “I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace,” Trump said. “The press is very dishonest.” Hegseth said his new rules were “common sense.”

Not true.

His rules defy logic and make it impossible for journalists to do basic reporting. Some military leaders are intimidated by the draconian edict and aren’t talking to reporters off the record. Not being able to have informal chats with top civilian and military leaders doesn’t allow members of the media to practice their profession or provide the public with comprehensive information about complex military procedures.

One reporter told Reuters, “You learn half of what’s going on by walking the halls. Without that, you’re just reading statements.”

No matter what your profession, talking to someone in person is always a good idea to build relationships and trust. And in this case, it goes both ways. Pentagon leaders can get an idea of what reporters are working on. And reporting “live from the Pentagon” is a visual that, rather than sitting in a generic studio, shows a sense of urgency to the audience that they are on the scene of breaking news.

But reporters are working harder than ever, breaking stories from outside the building, in a move that Hegseth may come to regret. It’s like a double or triple dare to journalists who act like dogs with bones when it comes to uncovering lies and misinformation by people in power.

Even though back-channel information is harder to come by, one recent CNN headline cited “sources” when it came to the U.S. bombing what was described as a drug-smuggling boat off Venezuela. Some news organizations are following suit on other stories.

One of the most prescient reporter reactions included taking a selfie as she was leaving the building. She showed a picture mounted on the wall behind her of a journalist covering a war. For now, that’s the end of an era.

Her colleagues didn’t miss the opportunity to pose for a group shot on the steps, carrying boxes cleared out from their studios.

Barbara Starr, who spent decades with CNN covering the Pentagon, lamented the loss of journalists covering wars. “The Pentagon press corps has traveled to every combat zone in the world. To be regarded as anything less than professional in their jobs is a sad business,” she told Fox News.

Margaret Brennan, host of CBS’s Face the Nation, reported that Pete Hegseth “once promised the most transparent administration ever. But as one former defense official told us, the American people are going to know a lot less about what their Department of War is doing.”

ABC’s This Week host Jonathan Karl pressed House Speaker Mike Johnson this weekend about the new Pentagon 21-page document. “Do you have a sense for why the Secretary of Defense seems to be afraid to interact with journalists who cover him?” Johnson fired back, saying that “fear is not part of the Secretary of War’s makeup.”

The new press restrictions will have serious short- and long-term consequences on journalists’ ability to do their jobs, not to mention the information the public will receive to make decisions about their tax dollars at work. Pentagon reporters have acted as the public’s eyes and ears, and without that, reporters may miss mistakes or abuses.

And that’s exactly what the administration wants. Editors at major networks are right in saying the ban can “normalize secrecy at the Defense Department.” The public will learn less about budgets, wars, and policies. That’s a negative for everyone.

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.

2025 Marconi Award Winners Announced in New York City

Jason Barrett
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2025 Marconi Award Winners Announced in New York City

The 2025 Marconi Radio Awards, honoring excellence and performance in radio were presented on Tuesday night in New York City by the National Association of Broadcasters. A standing-room-only crowd of creators, broadcasters, and executives from across the industry packed the Edison Ballroom on the eve of NAB Show New York to celebrate radio’s best. Twenty three awards in total were given out during the ceremony.

Danielle Monaro and Medha Gandhi, co-hosts of “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” hosted the event. The event included a special appearance by Grammy Award-winning producer and radio host DJ Scratch.

Marconi finalists were selected by a committee of broadcasters. Winners were determined by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy. To see photos from the event, click here.

2025 Marconi Radio Awards Winners

Legendary Station of the Year
WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.

Legendary Radio Manager of the Year
Nick Martin, Big River Broadcasting Corp, Florence, Ala.

Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year
Colin Cowherd, Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

Major Market Personality of the Year
Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison, WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.

Large Market Personality of the Year
Mitch Albom, WJR-AM, Detroit, Mich.

Medium Market Personality of the Year
Larry Hansgen, WHIO-FM, Dayton, Ohio

Small Market Personality of the Year
Mark Starling, WWNC-AM, Asheville, N.C.

Major Market Station of the Year
WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.

Large Market Station of the Year
KDKA-FM, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Medium Market Station of the Year
KRMG-FM, Tulsa, Okla.

Small Market Station of the Year
WTAW-AM, College Station, Texas

Best Radio Podcast of the Year
“Behind the Song”, Hubbard Broadcasting, Chicago, Ill.

C Station of the Year
WWBX-FM, Boston, Mass.

CHR Station of the Year
WDJX-FM, Louisville, Ky.

Classic Hits Station of the Year
WOMC-FM, Detroit, Mich.

College Radio Station of the Year
WRHU-FM, Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.

Country Station of the Year
KYGO-FM, Denver, Colo.

News/Talk Station of the Year
WBAL-AM, Baltimore, Md.

Religious Station of the Year
WPZE-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

Rock Station of the Year
WDRV-FM, Chicago, Ill.

Spanish Language Station of the Year
WMIA-FM, Miami, Fla.

Sports Station of the Year
WXYT-FM, Detroit, Mich.

Urban Station of the Year
KMJQ-FM, Houston, Texas.

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 Signs Multi-Year Broadcast Rights Extension With NBA

BSM Staff
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SiriusXM Signs Multi-Year Broadcast Rights Extension With NBA

SiriusXM and the National Basketball Association are keeping their relationship going strong. The two sides announced a multi-year renewal of their broadcasting agreement Tuesday. Ensuring fans across North America will continue to have access to every NBA game — from Opening Night to the Finals — on SiriusXM’s platforms.

The new deal allows listeners to follow the action in their cars and on the SiriusXM app, which offers live play-by-play of every game along with select WNBA broadcasts and exclusive programming on the 24/7 SiriusXM NBA Radio channel.

The timing of the announcement couldn’t be more fitting. The NBA tips off its new season tonight with an Opening Night doubleheader. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Throughout the season, SiriusXM will continue offering fans complete coverage across its platforms. The SiriusXM app features 30 dedicated team channels. Each carrying official local radio commentary so fans can follow their favorite announcers for every matchup. Schedules and channel listings are available at SiriusXM.com/Sports.

Beyond the live games, SiriusXM NBA Radio remains the only channel devoted entirely to basketball talk and analysis.

The lineup includes weekday staples like The Starting Lineup with Frank Isola and former player Brian Scalabrine, Give and Go with Rob “World Wide Wob” Perez and Antonio Daniels, and NBA Today with Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson, the 1988-89 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Weekend programming features NBA Weekend with Brian Geltzeiler and former NBA Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell. Along with NBA Insiders hosted by Jason Jackson and former Phoenix Suns executive Amin Elhassan.

In a notable addition to the agreement, several SiriusXM NBA Radio programs — including The Starting Lineup and NBA Today — will also be simulcast on NBA TV and the NBA app. The cross-platform expansion will bring SiriusXM’s basketball analysis and insider access to an even wider audience.

The network’s roster features an impressive lineup of talent. This including former players and coaches Greg Anthony, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, Sarah Kustok, Tim Legler, Rick Mahorn, Will Perdue, and Reggie Theus. Veteran broadcasters and reporters such as Gerald Brown, Vince Goodwill, Michael Grady, Zach Harper, and Mitch Lawrence round out the team.

During the WNBA season, SiriusXM NBA Radio also airs WNBA Central. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Holly Rowe, offering year-round coverage of the women’s game.

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.

Audacy, Cumulus Media Announce Merger of Infinity Sports Network, BetMGM Network Into Westwood One Sports

BSM Staff
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Audacy, Cumulus Media Announce Merger of Infinity Sports Network, BetMGM Network Into Westwood One Sports

Audacy and Cumulus Media have announced the merger of Infinity Sports Network and BetMGM Network into a singular network beginning Monday December 29. The announcement comes along with an extension to the partnership between Audacy and Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, the sole distributor of both Audacy owned networks.

According to a release, beginning December 29 the new network will be called Westwood One Sports in correlation with Westwood One assuming more control overseeing content and programming of the new network. The decision to merge the two networks was made in partnership between all entities.

“Westwood One Sports has always been synonymous with the biggest moments in sports audio,” said Collin Jones, President, Westwood One & EVP Corporate Strategy & Development, Cumulus Media. “Launching Westwood One Sports 24/7 programming strengthens that legacy and positions us to deliver unmatched coverage and commentary to fans coast-to-coast. We’re excited to work with Audacy to make this transition seamless and impactful.”

Under this new partnership, Westwood One will assume programming and distribution for the majority of the lineup of syndicated sports programming. This includes The Jim Rome Show, anchoring the coveted 3 PM – 6 PM ET weekday slot. Audacy will continue to produce popular BetMGM Network programs, including You Better You Bet with Nick Kostos (9 AM – 12 PM ET), BetMGM Tonight (6 PM – 11 PM ET) and additional weekend programming as part of the Westwood One Sports roster.

BetMGM will remain a presenting partner and the exclusive sportsbook partner of these programs. The full programming lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Audacy and Westwood One have a long, storied history of collaboration. Today’s evolution of our national sports partnership is that next chapter in our commitment to our hundreds of affiliates, their listeners, and our client partners,” said Chris Oliviero, Chief Business Officer, Audacy. “Be it local or national, broadcast or digital, opinion content or play by play. We continue to smartly look at ways to enhance our leadership position in sports content.”

Westwood One Sports’ 24/7 network will continue to deliver unmatched live coverage, expert commentary, and real-time sports programming to millions of listeners nationwide. This extends a partnership between Westwood One and Audacy that first began with the launch of CBS Sports Radio in 2012. Westwood One has handled sales and distribution for the network since its launch/

The initial press release didn’t mention what the future plans are for Maggie Gray, Andrew Perloff, Zach Gelb or other on-air talent who currently make up Infinity’s lineup. This is a developing story. Barrett Media will update when more information becomes available.

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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