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Why Mike Greenberg Views Time and Trust as Major Factors to Success at ESPN

John Mamola
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Why Mike Greenberg Views Time and Trust as Major Factors to Success at ESPN

The term “Mount Rushmore,” when used in sports debate, gives off several different reactions. Some consider the term a lead-in to a crutch sports debate during a slow period of the calendar. Others see it as the focal point of an entry into debating a moment in time and how it stacks up with the told history of the sport itself. Four faces that represent the best to ever do the work, carved in stone forever in time. Mike Greenberg’s 29 years at ESPN, between television and radio, instantly enter him into the debate of the “Mount Rushmore” of ESPN.

Greenberg just released a third edition of his “Got Your” series of books. Focusing on who makes the “Mount Rushmore” of each of the 124 major American sports teams. A task that a self-described lover of sports history leapt at the chance to create.

“The first book had done well, so they wanted us to do a second. The second one did well, they wanted us to do a third. Then ‘Hembo’ (Paul Hembekides) said we always do the Mount Rushmore of this and that,” explained Greenberg. “Why don’t we do the Mount Rushmore of every team in one of the sports? Then we thought about it and figured, why not do a Mount Rushmore of all the teams in all of sports?”

Over the next several months, between research, agreed-upon prioritization, and patience. Got Your Legends: Ranking America’s Sports Franchises and Their Most Iconic Figures was born. The 240-page guide covers who Greenberg, along with “Hembo,” believes are the top figures representing each organization individually. Using the guidelines as championships, winning percentage, overall success, and cultural relevance.

A Lack of History in Sports Conversation

“I really love sports history. What I love about writing these books is writing about the history of sports,” noted Greenberg. “I promise anyone who reads it, whether you agree or disagree with anything in the decisions we made. You will learn stuff about these players, coaches, and executives, and learn things about sports history that even the most avid sports fan won’t already know.”

Greenberg’s history with ESPN dates back nearly three decades. He co-hosted ESPN Radio’s longest-running program, Mike & Mike, for nearly two decades before stepping away in 2017 to become the host of a new ESPN morning program called Get Up.

A member of both the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame. Greenberg understands everything a host needs in his toolbox when engaging in sports conversation: the research and time it takes to craft an argument, along with an education in the history of the matter—something Greenberg notes is lacking in some sports media debates today.

“We somehow have decided we’re willing to accept that in sports. We’re willing to let people go on the air and say things like, ‘I don’t know much about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was before my time,’” explained Greenberg. “You have some obligation to know about the history of sports if you’re going to talk authoritatively about sports now.”

Overcoming ‘Get Up’ Early Struggles

Greenberg is entering his eighth year as the lead host of ESPN’s flagship television morning show, Get Up. Which replaced the iconic morning brand of SportsCenter in April 2018.

“There are some times I can’t believe we’ve been doing the show all this time, and there are some times it feels like we started the show last week,” Greenberg joked.

He says the experience of working on Get Up has been incredible since the program launched, and the product has improved as time has passed. Greenberg believes that Get Up in its current state is better than it was last year. As the program continues to evolve with the support of everyone who works on it.

Recalling the program’s launch in 2018, there were many headlines about its initial ratings. Viewership declined by upwards of double digits in the first weeks. Which had many in sports media debating whether the show would last.

Greenberg was fully aware of the slow start but revealed that a coffee meeting with ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro led to a budding confidence in the program and its future.

“I always felt that once we had the time to get it right, we would succeed,” said Greenberg. “I met with Jimmy Pitaro a few months into it [Get Up]… and told him, ‘I’m a grown man and I can take this. You can be honest with me. If you don’t feel like this is going anywhere, you can tell me, and I’ll be totally comfortable with that. Or look me in the eye and say, “Mike, I’m going to give you the chance to make this work.”’ He said to me, ‘I’m going to give you the chance to make this thing work.’ That was everything.”

Following that meeting, it brought new confidence in Greenberg to take risks and try new things. By the end of 2018, because of that confidence shown by Pitaro, Get Up was in a “very good place,” and a year after launching, they found where the show wanted to be.

“Not everyone gets that—not just in this industry, but in anything,” said Greenberg. “If you try to launch any endeavor of scale, that’s big, it requires a lot of work and effort. And if you judge it based on its immediate result, then in my opinion, you’re making an enormous mistake. You shouldn’t have tried it to begin with. If you are going to endeavor to do something as big as launching a daily television show, then you have to give it time to find its footing.”

Greenberg noted that he’s forever grateful for the confidence shown by ESPN management to allow the Get Up crew the time and resources to grow to where they are today.

“If you’re someone like me, you can’t ask for more than that,” said Greenberg. “I am so proud that we have delivered on it. We have proven them right. That makes me feel better than anything in 29 years at ESPN. I don’t know if anything has made me feel better in my 29 years than the fact that we have lived up to the confidence that they showed in us.”

Potential Return to Radio

This NFL season is the first in some time where Mike Greenberg is not hosting on ESPN Radio. He stepped away from his Greeny program in January after hosting it on the network since 2020. Greenberg noted that the time required for the radio program became too much while balancing hosting Get Up and Sunday NFL Countdown, though he said he would eventually return to radio.

Greenberg says the goal is to eventually return to radio. While he doesn’t foresee a change to his current schedule anytime soon, radio still holds a place in his heart.

“I love what I’m doing right now. The combination of the NFL and Get Up, I love it. I don’t foresee any change in that anytime soon,” said Greenberg. “It isn’t forever. There will come a time when change happens because it’s inevitable. I could easily see myself, whenever the end of my career comes, going back to a radio show, whether it’s 10–15 years from now when I want to start slowing down a little bit.”

He noted that radio is where he built his career at ESPN, serving 18 years as co-host alongside Mike Golic on Mike & Mike. As part of one of the most iconic duos in sports radio history, Greenberg didn’t dismiss the notion of potentially hosting a show again alongside Golic.

“People ask me all the time if I think we’ll work together again. The only honest answer I can give you is that we haven’t talked about it,” said Greenberg.

With ESPN Radio’s 35th anniversary coming up on January 1, 2027, Greenberg was asked if he’d be open to a one-off program celebrating the history of ESPN Radio alongside his former co-host.

“It’s not something that’s ever come up. It’s certainly not something that I would say has no chance on my end. It’s not something that’s ever been raised. It’s not something I’m expecting, but you never know what happens in life,” said Greenberg.

With the release of Got Your Legends: Ranking America’s Sports Franchises and Their Most Iconic Figures, Greenberg is focused on finding another layer to the “Got Your” franchise. He said there have been conversations about a fourth edition to the series, potentially expanding to college sports.

“We do these books because people have demonstrated an interest in it. So, let’s see how this one does,” explained Greenberg. “I did have the idea of taking this Mount Rushmore idea to college sports. I think that would be an interesting exercise, and I would imagine there would be an audience for it.”

Perhaps a case of symmetry if a fourth edition is released in the future, completing the series’ own Mount Rushmore as Mike Greenberg continues to carve his legacy representing ESPN.

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 WNBA Controversy Showcases ESPN Proving Its Doubters Wrong

John Mamola
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How WNBA Controversy Showcases ESPN Proving Its Doubters Wrong

No one would ever claim to be an expert at everything, myself included. When it comes to the WNBA and the day-to-day operations of the league, I certainly don’t have inside knowledge. I’m a fair-weather fan. I don’t attach to a particular team or player. I have opinions, like many, but oftentimes I choose to watch and enjoy other sports instead of the WNBA.

This week, my attention was captured not by the action on the court but by something happening off it. Too often, the league’s headlines away from the game dominate sports media oxygen. Minnesota Lynx star Naphessa Collier publicly blasted commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a four-minute statement, accusing the league’s leadership of a “lack of accountability.”

The statement itself wasn’t what caught my eye. It was how ESPN talent handled the situation, as the WNBA’s largest media rights holder. For all the criticism that ESPN is muzzled when covering league partners, this week it stood firm against that narrative. Where was the sports media love for that?

ESPN has forever been a punching bag for sports media. For generations, people finding pockets and avenues to criticize even the smallest or somewhat insignificant item of a much larger picture.

ESPN Is a Target for Sports Media

When ESPN came to an agreement with the NFL, many in sports media decided to hop back on the train that left the station many moons ago. From Dan Patrick to David Samson and many in between, the notion of a potential conflict of interest was abundant, even though the 10% acquisition of the stake in ESPN by the NFL had not yet been approved.

ESPN, once lauded for holding partners accountable, was now seen as compromised (again). But any media rights deal involves partnership. When I ran sports radio stations in Tampa Bay, we partnered with teams too—but that never stopped us from covering them objectively. Being true to your audience matters most.

For all the noise created when the NFL and ESPN teamed up like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed earlier this year, where was the noise about how the network handled the WNBA headlines this week?

If you are still waiting for a peep, you may be waiting a while, if not forever.

Does the WNBA have issues? Certainly. What league doesn’t?

Can Collier’s words be taken as gospel? She’s a respected voice and vice president of the WNBA Player Association, negotiating with the commissioner on a new collective bargaining agreement. That deal ends this month, so tensions are understandably high following a record year for the league.

Was Engelbert’s response flawless? No. But calling the person you’re negotiating with a liar wouldn’t help resolve the matter.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

What impressed me was how ESPN handled its criticism and coverage of the situation. The Walt Disney Company pays the WNBA, along with Amazon and NBCUniversal, a combined $200 million a year as part of an 11-year media rights extension signed last year. ESPN has a long-standing relationship with the league (and the NBA) dating back to when the WNBA launched in 1997.

This week, several ESPN talents called for the resignation of the WNBA commissioner, the network’s long-standing media partner. Stephen A. Smith said Engelbert’s statement made her “look guilty as hell” and added that she should hand in her resignation. Scott Van Pelt’s One Big Thing on SportsCenter challenged Engelbert to address the controversy head-on before the WNBA Finals kick off. Several other ESPN commentators, columnists, and hosts added their perspective. Calling for better from the head of the WNBA.

ESPN talent held their ground and challenged the face of their own media partner. Yet little credit has been given to balance the criticism earlier this year.

I wrote earlier this year about the fears many in sports media share about how ESPN “ruins” programming. Somehow being aligned with ESPN, Inside the NBA will be changed forever and diluted by the four-letter network. RedZone is over as we know it because the Worldwide Leader will now be heading the production of it.

These are the same people who speak the loudest about how ESPN won’t criticize or cover their partners fairly and objectively.

Where were they this week when ESPN did exactly what it was predicted they wouldn’t do?

Perfect objectivity may be unrealistic. Fairness isn’t.

ESPN deserves credit for its coverage this week. Too often, sports media waits for an opportunity to pounce instead of acknowledging what’s happening right in front of them.

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

Making the Leap to Classic Rock with Dave and Mahoney (Part 2)

Mike Stern
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Making the Leap to Classic Rock with Dave and Mahoney (Part 2)

It’s been about two and half years since The Dave and Mahoney Show hosted by Dave Farra, Jason Mahoney and Audrey Drake moved from their longtime home base at Alternative KXTE/Las Vegas to originate from Classic Rock KLSX/Phoenix. In Monday’s Classic Rock column, I spoke with them about how the audiences on the two stations differs. For part two of our discussion, we delve into how the difference in audience impacts their content choices and syndication efforts.

Impact on Content

Molding the show to fit their new station required a very deliberate approach according to the team. That was because they understood that they were becoming part of a well-established brand. “We’re coming to a radio station that has four decades of heritage,” says Farra. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for the legacy of KSLX. We knew what they built before we joined the team. So, we were very intentional about what we decided to put on the air.”

They quickly discovered that some things do translate regardless of demographics and that helped them find their footing. “We’ve discovered that people who find humor in bodily functions and body parts cross all ages, races, creeds and colors,” says Mahoney. “Those things are pretty universally funny.”

Another unexpected bonus of the move is the older part of the audience’s willingness to participate. They’ve done so in a way that younger audiences no longer do. “There is an unexpected wealth of content that comes from the upper end of the audience. They aren’t afraid to use the phone,” says Mahoney. “They grew up calling in to radio stations. It’s still very much a part of their routine and relationship with the radio.” That differs quite a bit from younger audiences who they find rely on text and social media to communicate.

That still didn’t mean that everything was going to work in a Classic Rock world. They started with a review of all of their established benchmarks and features. Some pieces didn’t fit the new station and a few needed to be cut anyway. Farra says 40% were probably left behind. Of them, a few have trickled back in but not many.

There were also benchmarks that unexpectedly improved with the move to the new station. One example is a contest called Cover Your Ears. Listeners try to identify covers of popular songs that the team finds on the internet.

“Looking back, when we were doing that with Alternative songs it seems so niche,” says Drake. “Now we can use songs that are more mainstream making it much easier for the audience to play along.”

They also found that having an authentic connection to the music is important with a Classic Rock audience. That lead to several new content pieces including a contest called Rock and Roll Ruh Roh. The show recounts a rockstar’s various trials and tribulations like drugs issues, arrests and personal problems. Listeners must then guess who it is.

“That has been a lot of fun because it revisits all of the crazy things that have happened in Rock and Roll,” says Farra.

Impact on Syndication

The show was already syndicated by Compass Media before the move to KSLX but Farra says the change has enhanced their ability to attract affiliates. “People are entrusting us on established brands with big listenership because of the trust that Hubbard Radio has showed by putting us on a station like KSLX.”

The impact, Mahoney says, isn’t just the number of stations interested but the caliber of the stations adding the show. More Classic Rock stations are picking up the program. Those outlets tend to be on stronger signals as opposed to many opportunities where syndicated shows are put on the weakest station in a cluster.

From a content perspective, the pieces that go to affiliates are carefully selected. It starts with a clear understanding of the show’s brand and voice. “We try to view all of our content through that lens. Everything that goes out to the network, whether or not it airs here in Phoenix, is put through that filter,” says Farra. The content also must make sense for all their affiliates, Classic Rock, Mainstream Rock, and Alternative. “If it will sound even a little bit awkward on any of the three, we don’t use it,” adds Mahoney.

According to Drake, the shift to content with wider appeal—paired with the addition of stronger affiliates—has been a pleasant surprise. That combination has made the network an important source of extra content for the Phoenix show, forming a productive loop. The best listener feedback they receive across their network can be packaged and used as new material to revisit a strong topic in Phoenix.

Wrapping up our discussion, the team praised Hubbard Radio’s patience and direction. Brand/Content Director David Moore, VP/Market Manager Trip Reeb and EVP Programming and Audience Development Greg Strassell were all mentioned.

“With confidence and a long runway from management to get this off the ground, we’ve got to a really good place where we have found the audience, regardless of their age, that our content resonates with,” says Farra. “That’s thanks to a lot of patience from the corner offices and good coaching along the way.”

What the Latest Edison Research Share of Ear Data Means for the Radio Industry

Garrett Searight
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What the Latest Edison Research Share of Ear Data Means for the Radio Industry

Edison Research has released its third-quarter Share of Ear data, and there are some interesting takeaways, especially for rural AM/FM radio broadcasters.

The study, which has been continuous since 2014, reveals that time spent listening to AM/FM radio figures in rural communities outpace both suburban and urban listeners.

In rural areas, 34% of all audio listening is spent with AM/FM radio. Meanwhile, that figure drops to 30% with suburban listeners and 28% for urban respondents.

Conversely, urban listeners spent 40% of their daily time spent listening on mobile devices. That declines slightly to 36% for suburban listeners, and even further for rural listeners, down to 34%.

Edison Research co-founder and President Larry Rosin said there isn’t one singular reason for why those figures shook out the way they did. But he does have theories for why the AM/FM radio listenership in rural areas has a higher time spent listening than its urban and suburban counterparts.

People in rural areas tend to use their phones less,” Rosin shared. “Phone use is expensive, and if you identify people who don’t have expensive phone plans or don’t even use smartphones, they’re much more likely to be concentrated in more rural areas. So that’s part of it.”

He added that it’s just as likely, however, that the hyper-local nature of AM/FM radio in those same areas could be a driving factor behind that difference.

“I think we also have to consider the utility of radio in rural areas,” Rosin added. “I think radio maybe means a little bit more in those parts of the country. So, I think some of the things that broadcasters do, they often are very attuned to the needs of more rural listeners. It’s definitely partially that as well.”

As different as the data is for the location of those survey respondents, the difference in listening habits is even greater between age demographics.

“The variable that matters the most, by far, is age,” said Rosin. “It’s like three different worlds. If you divide 13-to-34, 35-to-54, and 55-plus. It’s like yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

“I don’t know what it would have looked like in 1990, but it’s probably what 55-plus looks like today. Some of these technologies were long in the future in 1990, but it was a world where radio was super dominant and ‘owned music’ was the only other option, or things like that. 35 to 54-year-olds are in the middle, and 13 to 34 look completely different from 55-plus, as you might imagine,” Rosin continued. “So much of it is phone-based audio options, as opposed to say a dedicated AM/FM radio or any other device when you get those three different worlds.”

An additional factor in the daily time spent listening between terrestrial radio and mobile device listening is the proliferation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Auto owners who had neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto spent 62% of their time spent listening to AM/FM radio, 13% listening to SiriusXM, 12% listening to streaming audio options like Spotify or Pandora, and 4% listening to podcasts, Share of Ear data from Edison Research shows.

Those who had either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? Only 47% of their time spent listening was with terrestrial radio, with the streaming and SiriusXM numbers both climbing to 20%, individually, and podcasts rising slightly to 5%.

Largely, listeners aren’t using their mobile devices to stream AM/FM radio brands, the Edison Research President shared.

“It only gets single-digit percentage of listening on a phone and does a little bit better on a smart speaker, but the overwhelming majority of radio listening happens on a radio device,” Rosin shared. “In the car, virtually nobody streams radio stations. If you’re going to listen to radio in the car, overwhelmingly, they’re going to stream stuff that’s unique to streaming, because they have a radio in their car.

“Yes, there are cases where I live here in New Jersey, I grew up in Chicago, and I’m a Cubs fan. I wanted to listen to (670) The Score to talk about the Cubs or something like that, there are fringe cases like that. But overwhelmingly, if people listen to the radio in the car, it’s on the radio. And if they’re using their phones, it’s because they want to choose something that isn’t on the radio.”

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.

Hits on the Horizon: 5 Seconds of Summer, Zach Bryan, Portugal The Man, and Don Toliver

Jim Ryan
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Hits on the Horizon: 5 Seconds of Summer, Zach Bryan, Portugal The Man, and Don Toliver

Hits on the Horizon starts the first week of October with a look at how Top 40/Hot-AC radio is figuring out which new Taylor Swift to start spinning. Multiple songs from the new album, which came out today are likely filling your ears! Besides Taylor though, here is some additional ear candy that should be on your radar.

5 Seconds Of Summer‘s “Not OK” is very catchy and rocks. It has racked up 500,000 plus streams in a couple of days. It’s a song both formats should embrace! Another track to get your ears on if they haven’t been already is The Kid Laroi‘s “A Cold Play”. 2.7 million streams were generated this week. Give it a listen! Finally, the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Nothing Lasts Forever” has a solid hook and is already getting some love from Mix 96.5 in Asheville.

Jumping to the Alternative and AAA worlds, I’ve been obsessed with Portugal The Man‘s “Tanana”. Radio love is coming to the band from 94-7 NRK in Portland, Alt 94.9 in San Diego and Alt-Nation at Sirius XM. Just cause it’s that time of year and the some is catchy and somewhat funky, take a listen to Tame Impala‘s “Dracula”. It’s receiving early radio support from The Current in Minneapolis and a few others. Also this week, put your ears on Wolf Alice‘s “White Horses”. It has a catchy groove and Alt 94.7 in Sacramento and Music Choice are giving it some airplay!

Moving to Rhythm, Don Toliver‘s “Tiramisu” should be on your radar. It did 3.4 million streams this week and gained airplay from Club 93.7 WRCL in Flint and MC Max on Music Choice. Next is Clipse‘s “The Birds Don’t Sing”, which has great lyrics and a cool hook. The song also ends with spoken word which doesn’t happen in music all that often! Radio love is coming from Hot 97.5 KVEG in Las Vegas.

Finishing up with Country, Zach Bryan‘s “Pink Skies” is really good! I’m usually a big fan of songs with harmonica and this one is excellent. 5 million plus streams this week isn’t bad either. Another one with streams north of 3 million this week is Bailey Zimmerman w/ The Kid Laroi‘s “Lost”. It has crossover potential with Pop and is getting radio airplay from 101.7 The Bull in Boston. The last one to listen to this week comes from Zach Top. Check out “South Of Sanity”, which is getting radio love from Kix106 in Memphis and pulled down 3.2 million streams this week.

So there you go. My ear candy recommendations for this first weekend in October. Happy listening!

Radio Ownership Dreams vs. Employment Nightmares: The Ongoing Debate Over Deregulation

Garrett Searight
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Radio Ownership Dreams vs. Employment Nightmares: The Ongoing Debate Over Deregulation

For as long as there has been talk of loosening ownership rules in radio, there has been a divide between those who own and those who work.

On one side, executives and ownership groups believe rescinding ownership limits is the industry’s path to survival. On the other, on-air talents and producers see the move as one that all but guarantees fewer jobs. Both sides have history on their side, but their goals couldn’t be further apart.

Those opportunities — or wounds, depending on your perspective — were opened this week as the FCC shared it would begin its 2022 quadrennial review of ownership limits, which was championed by the NAB, Beasley Media Group, Cumulus Media, and Connoisseur Media, among others.

History is a cruel teacher in this conversation. The 1996 Telecommunications Act is the most glaring example. Radio ownership caps were relaxed, companies scooped up stations at a rapid pace (and inflated prices), and consolidation became the business model.

What followed? A steep decline in employees. Multiple voices on air turned into a single voice across clusters. Newsrooms shrank. Production staffs were cut in half. Sales staffs have even become shells of what they used to be in their heyday.

The message was clear: deregulation meant fewer opportunities for those who worked inside studios, even as executives touted “efficiency” and “synergy.”

That history shapes how radio talents view deregulation today. If you’re a morning host, traffic reporter, or board op, there’s nothing exciting about hearing your company may soon own more stations in your market, or anywhere else, for that matter, because you know what comes next: automation, out-of-market voice-tracking, shared programming. It doesn’t take long before your role is eliminated, or, if you’re one of the lucky ones, your workload doubles for the same pay.

So, naturally, the overwhelming majority of employees are against loosening ownership caps. Their opposition isn’t ideological. It’s survival.

Meanwhile, ownership groups and their executives have a very different outlook. In a world where Apple, Spotify, and YouTube dominate digital audio, executives believe consolidation offers the only chance to compete.

Their logic is simple: larger clusters mean bigger scale, which means more ad dollars. If you’re fighting for national buys, a company with 20 stations in one market and a digital network spanning dozens of others is more attractive to advertisers than a company capped by ownership rules written decades ago. To the C-Suite, rescinding ownership limits isn’t about trimming headcount. It’s about survival in a digital-first economy.

Both perspectives make sense within their own context. Employees see consolidation as a threat to their careers. Owners see it as a lifeline for their companies. And while both sides may be right, neither side is willing to acknowledge the other’s point of view. For employees, the argument is existential. For owners, the argument is financial.

The reality is that bridging this gap feels almost impossible. Radio ownership groups aren’t going to stop advocating for fewer restrictions. They see the FCC as an outdated referee still playing by 1980s rules. And employees aren’t going to suddenly cheer the idea of consolidation. They’ve seen too many of their beloved colleagues let go to believe otherwise.

So where does that leave the industry? Pretending this tension doesn’t exist helps no one. These conversations are happening daily — whether in the studio, at the water cooler, or in boardrooms and corner offices. Employees worry about pink slips, while executives dream of bigger clusters and national ad packages. The disconnect is obvious. Conversely, employees dream about having the attention and bank account of Howard Stern, while executives worry about how they can inflate the stock price and increase revenue.

Could there be a middle ground? Maybe. Some have suggested ownership groups invest more heavily in local content and personalities or digital innovation if deregulation is expanded. That might help ease employee fears. But promises are hard to believe when the history of deregulation in radio is littered with layoffs.

At the same time, talent needs to recognize that owners aren’t pushing for deregulation just because they’re bored and looking for new challenges. Competing against Big Tech is a fight radio can’t win without scale. Spotify isn’t worried about the FCC’s ownership limits. Neither is Apple. And YouTube isn’t scaling back its ad inventory because of rules written for terrestrial radio. Owners view consolidation as the only way to play in that same league.

There may not be a perfect bridge between these two worlds. And maybe that’s the uncomfortable truth the industry has to live with. But ignoring the conversation doesn’t help. For radio to have a future, both the studio and the corner office need to at least understand where the other is coming from — even if they never agree.

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.

Is a College Degree Still Worth It in 2025?

Bob Lawrence
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Is a College Degree Still Worth It in 2025?

For years, we’ve been fed the same tired line: go to college, get a degree, land a great job, live the American dream. It sounds nice, but here’s the inconvenient truth: that dream is cracking. For many students, it’s becoming a nightmare of debt, stress, and broken promises. Many of us can certainly agree that it’s nothing like when we grew up.

Let’s start with the numbers. College costs have exploded in the past few decades. I went to college in the late 70s and it sure didn’t cost what it does today. Tuition has skyrocketed so high that it makes housing prices look reasonable by comparison. My daughter went to a Big 10 school almost 10 years ago and it cost about 30k a year. Today’s it’s even more!

The average graduate now walks away with more than $40,000 in student loan debt. Many owe much more. I remember a scholarship my daughter received for 20K a year and they still wanted 40-K more every year. We end up strapping a huge financial anchor around our kids necks before they’ve even had the chance to build a career. By the time they pay off their debt, they’ve already spent years delaying milestones like buying a house, having kids, or starting a business. In other words, “education” ends up costing them more than just money – it costs them time and freedom. BTW, my daughter has been out of school since 2018. She still owes about 15k, even after the huge amount I paid toward her education.

Then there’s the ugly truth about return on investment. Yeah, if you’re studying engineering, nursing, or computer science then college may still pay. But what about the countless students graduating with degrees in fields that don’t line up with anything even close to today’s job market? Too often, they’re working in jobs that don’t require a degree at all—while still making payments on one. Imagine owing $50,000 only to end up pouring coffee, working retail, or taking an entry-level job where your degree hangs on the wall collecting dust. It happens every single day.

Meanwhile, the world has totally changed. Many employers don’t even care as much about the diploma as they do about skills, results, and adaptability. Many of us who hire people are often looking for people who can communicate and have mastered the English language. Surprisingly, that’s no longer a given anymore. Tech giants like Google and Tesla are openly saying they don’t need to see a college degree to hire you. And in an era of freelancing, online certifications, coding bootcamps, and skilled trades, why chain yourself to four years of debt when you could be earning and learning in real time?

And let’s not ignore the emotional toll. Student debt isn’t just a line on a balance sheet. It’s a dark cloud that follows them far into adulthood. The stress of owing tens of thousands can impact mental health, delay life decisions, and make people feel trapped in jobs they don’t even like, simply because they can’t afford to leave. That’s not freedom – it’s modern-day indentured servitude dressed up in a cap and gown.

The truth is college still makes sense for some. Doctors, lawyers, engineers. Obviously, you’re going to need that degree. But the myth that everyone needs college? That’s outdated and potentially dangerous advice. It’s time to break the cycle of blindly sending teenagers into six figures of debt for a piece of paper that may or may not pay off.

Here’s the real issue… College isn’t automatically that golden ticket that these young people trust as if Ryan Seacrest handed it to them on American Idol. For many, it’s a potential trap – or worse – a financial IED. And before signing those loan documents, every young person and parent should ask, “Is this degree worth 10, 20, maybe even 30 years of my financial future?” If the answer is no, the smartest choice may be skipping college altogether.

ESPN Signs T.J. Oshie as Analyst for Upcoming NHL Season

BSM Staff
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ESPN Signs T.J. Oshie as Analyst for Upcoming NHL Season

ESPN is adding a Stanley Cup champion to its NHL coverage. The network announced that longtime Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie will join the company as a studio and game analyst beginning with the 2025-26 season.

The move comes just four months after Oshie officially retired following a 16-year NHL career. Known for his relentless style and clutch scoring ability, the 38-year-old enters the media world with instant credibility and name recognition.

Oshie spent last season on long-term injured reserve because of a chronic back issue that ultimately ended his playing days. It was the final year of an eight-year, $46 million deal he signed with Washington in 2017. While his health limited his late-career availability, his legacy on the ice was already cemented.

Over 1,010 regular-season games with the St. Louis Blues and Capitals, Oshie collected 695 points (302 goals, 393 assists). He also added 69 points in 106 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Highlighted by a 21-point run during Washington’s 2018 championship season. He scored at least 20 goals six times. Including a career-best 33 in 2016-17 when he tied Alex Ovechkin for the team lead.

The Everett, Washington, native first gained widespread attention during the 2014 Sochi Olympics when he scored four times in six shootout attempts to lift Team USA past Russia in a dramatic preliminary-round game. That moment made him a household name and set the stage for his status as one of the most popular players of his era.

Drafted by the Blues in the first round in 2005, Oshie spent seven seasons in St. Louis before being traded to Washington in 2015. The move paired him with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the Capitals’ top line, where he quickly became a staple. In total, he produced 385 points across 567 games in Washington.

Despite his size—listed at 6-foot and 187 pounds—Oshie built a reputation as a fearless competitor. That style eventually took a toll, particularly with recurring back issues that limited him to fewer than 60 games in each of his final three seasons. Still, he managed to reach the milestone of 1,000 NHL games in March 2024, becoming just the 62nd U.S.-born player to achieve the feat.

Oshie’s playing career may have ended quietly with a first-round playoff exit to the New York Rangers last spring, but his transition into broadcasting signals a new chapter. For ESPN, the addition adds another recognizable face to its growing roster of hockey talent. For fans, it offers a chance to hear insights from a player who combined skill, grit, and championship pedigree.

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.

NBCUniversal, YouTube TV Reach Multi-Year Distribution Agreement

BSM Staff
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NBCUniversal, YouTube TV Reach Multi-Year Distribution Agreement

NBCUniversal and Google have reached a multi-year distribution agreement that secures the continued carriage of NBCU’s broadcast and cable networks on YouTube TV, while also expanding Peacock’s reach to new platforms. The deal, announced Wednesday, underscores how traditional media companies are leaning on digital partners to ensure accessibility in an increasingly fragmented marketplace.

The agreement covers NBCUniversal’s full portfolio of linear networks, including NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Oxygen True Crime, MSNBC, USA, Syfy and Universo. YouTube TV will maintain long-term rights to the lineup, providing subscribers consistent access to NBCU’s high-profile programming, from primetime scripted series to cable news and niche entertainment brands.

“This is a clear win for both our business and our viewers,” said Matt Schnaars, president of platform distribution and partnerships at NBCUniversal. “We’ve secured long-term access to our portfolio on YouTube TV, while advancing our Peacock strategy with an upcoming launch on YouTube Primetime Channels. This positions us for continued growth and reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment to fans across platforms.”

The announcement also carries significant implications for sports. Later this fall, NBCUniversal will debut a new iteration of the NBC Sports Network, branded NBCSN, which will be available on YouTube TV. The channel will showcase a wide mix of live sports programming, complementing NBC’s broadcast coverage of events like the NFL, Premier League and the Olympics. For Google, the addition provides another differentiator in the increasingly competitive live sports streaming space.

Peacock, NBCU’s flagship direct-to-consumer service, is also set to become a subscription option through YouTube Primetime Channels. That move builds on Peacock’s steady distribution growth, which already includes availability across Google’s Android ecosystem, including Google Play and Google TV. The deal further ensures that highlights, clips and short-form content from NBCU properties will remain on YouTube platforms, while films and shows from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will continue to be available to buy or rent through Google TV, YouTube TV and YouTube.

From a broader perspective, the extension solidifies the digital presence of NBCUniversal’s library. Universal’s iconic films will continue to stream through YouTube Premium and be accessible as free ad-supported offerings via YouTube’s Primetime Content section, keeping legacy titles in front of new audiences while monetizing across multiple tiers.

For Google, the agreement highlights its strategy to remain a leading aggregator in the digital TV space.

“This deal builds on our long-standing partnership with NBCU while addressing the evolving media landscape and recognizing the importance of making content available where and how viewers want to watch it,” said Justin Connolly, vice president and global head of media and sports at YouTube. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement and look forward to continuing our partnership to serve billions of viewers around the world.”

The partnership comes just days after the two sides agreed to a short-term extension, keeping NBCU’s portfolio of channels on the platform as the two sides continue negotiating a new carriage agreement.

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.

Trust in Media Reaches New Lows in 2025, New Gallup Data Shows

BNM Staff
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Trust in Media Reaches New Lows in 2025, New Gallup Data Shows

Confidence in American media has continually slid in recent years. In 2025, it reached new lows, according to polling from Gallup.

Since 1972, Gallup has asked the same question of survey respondents: “In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media — such as newspapers, TV and radio — when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately and fairly — a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?”

In 1972, 68% said they had a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media. Since reaching a high of 72% in 1976, the figure has steadily dropped.

Last year, the figure fell to a new low of 31%, down from 40% in 2020. This year’s polling shows that the figure has dropped even lower.

Only 28% of respondents said they had a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television, and radio to report news “fully, accurately, and fairly.” It marked the first time in the history of the survey that the figure had fallen below 30%.

For the first time, those who identify as Republicans dropped to single digits, as only 8% of those respondents said they had trust in mass media. 27% of Independents say they trust media, remaining flat from last year’s historic lows. 51% of Democrats surveyed said they have trust in media.

Confidence in the media is higher among older respondents. 43% of those aged 65+ said they had a great deal or fair amount of trust in media.

Those aged 50-64 responded similarly at 28%, while 30-49 year olds were at 23%. Those aged 18-29 were also at 28% favorability.

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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