Podcasting is launching fewer new shows in 2026. However, more podcasts are actively publishing than at any point since 2021.
What We Know: According to Listen Notes, 563,571 podcasts have been active so far in 2026. That figure already more than doubles each annual total from 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, only 113,332 new shows debuted through September, putting 2026 on pace for its fewest podcast launches in ten years. Additionally, AI-generated shows made up roughly 29% of third-quarter launches.
What Remains Unclear: Listen Notes counts a show as dead only when its feed disappears or its creator marks it complete. Consequently, shows that stopped publishing may escape the overall tally. Meanwhile, AI’s share of launches swung from 32.1% in February to 26.1% in September. It’s unclear any reasoning why the spike in activity versus new podcasts created.
What It Means: Ultimately, podcasting is currently running more on established shows rather than a flood of newcomers. Together, fewer launches and fewer closures point to a steadier, more mature market. However, AI-generated content still claims a meaningful slice of new entries to the podcast space. Therefore, separating human and automated shows matters more than ever when measuring growth.
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Newsmax has launched The Big Beautiful Trump Show, a new program hosted by Washington Reporter Editor-in-Chief Matthew Foldi. The show debuted Sunday, October 11th, at 9 p.m. ET.
What We Know:The Big Beautiful Trump Show will focus on President Donald Trump‘s accomplishments and the media coverage he receives from other outlets. Promotional materials describe the program as a platform for highlighting what the administration has achieved while challenging coverage the show characterizes as unfair. Foldi leads The Washington Reporter, a publication covering politics and policy. The launch adds another Trump-focused program to Newsmax’s lineup as the network continues serving audiences interested in conservative political commentary.
What They Said: “Much more to come, but I’m excited to let everyone know about what we’ve kept under wraps for a few months.” -Matthew Foldi
What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear whether Foldi will continue his responsibilities at The Washington Reporter while hosting the program. The network hasn’t announced whether the show will expand beyond its initial Sunday time slot or receive additional distribution across Newsmax’s digital platforms.
What It Means: The launch gives Newsmax another opportunity to appeal to viewers who support Trump’s agenda and believe mainstream outlets treat the president unfairly. Meanwhile, Foldi brings his experience covering Washington politics to a program built around the president’s record and media coverage. The show’s reception could help determine whether Newsmax expands its role in programming centered on Trump’s second administration.
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Saturday, October 10th was World Mental Health Day. Fittingly, Radio Hall of Famer Charlamagne Tha God co-hosted the 6th Annual Mental Wealth Expo that day. The Breakfast Club co-host teamed up with wellness educator Devi Brown. The free event took place at NJIT’s Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center in Newark.
What We Know: The Mental Wealth Alliance and iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1 FM presented the all-ages event. Altogether, it drew thousands of attendees. Notably, this year’s expo shifted from basic awareness to direct action. For example, it featured live therapeutic workshops and access to free mental health professionals. Charlamagne has been highly candid about his own battles with panic attacks and anxiety. Throughout the day, he met fans and signed his bestselling book, Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me. In addition, the expo addressed generational trauma and daily anxiety. It also honored local mental healthcare trailblazers.
What They Said: “I congratulate you for choosing yourself and being here. Because if you’re in this room, that means you urge for more. You want more for yourself. You want to meet yourself on the other side and you’re looking for the tools to be better.” – Devi Brown addressing the attendees
“Sometimes taking care of yourself doesn’t mean quitting your job, it means going to therapy. Sometimes it means taking time off, having an uncomfortable conversation with somebody you love, or just admitting you need help. It means walking away sometimes from something that is no longer good for you.” – Charlamagne Tha God
What Remains Unclear: iHeartMedia broadcasts nationally. However, there is no confirmed schedule yet for a multi-city tour to other regions. So far, the expo has taken place in the New York metro area for all six years.
What It Means: Overall, mental health advocacy is moving from basic awareness to direct intervention. For instance, the Mental Wealth Alliance is committing over 10,000 hours of free therapy to underserved communities. That commitment aims to help people overcome financial barriers to care. Meanwhile, iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest audio company, is leveraging its vast platform to destigmatize mental health. By dedicating airtime, hosting events, and featuring prominent talent, the company is changing how people find and access public health resources.
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iHeartMedia has hired Michelle McKormick as morning host for BIG 101.3 and WMRR in West Michigan. She debuts on both stations October 19.
What We Know: McKormick is a Grand Rapids native with more than four decades in West Michigan radio. She started in 1984 at WGRD-FM while attending Central Michigan University. Later, she worked at WOOD-AM, WJRW-AM, Detroit’s WKRK-FM, and New Jersey’s WKXW. Most recently, she co-hosted mornings on Cumulus Media’s WLAV-FM for 15 years until company-wide cuts ended her run August 28.
What They Said: Tim Feagan, iHeartMedia regional president: “Michelle is one of the most recognizable and beloved voices in West Michigan radio. Her authenticity, passion for the community, and ability to connect with listeners every morning made her a natural fit for BIG 101.3 and WMRR. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
Michelle McKormick: “I’m so excited to be back on the air in my hometown and to join the iHeartMedia team. West Michigan listeners have been incredible to me for decades, and I can’t wait to wake them up again every morning on BIG 101.3 and WMRR. This feels like the right next chapter.”
What Remains Unclear: iHeartMedia did not say whether McKormick will host solo or with a co-host. Additionally, the company did not share the length or terms of her contract.
What It Means: For iHeartMedia, the hire brings a proven local name to two West Michigan signals. At the same time, it puts McKormick back on air against her former Cumulus station. As a result, Grand Rapids mornings just became more competitive. Above all, it shows that strong local talent still carries value after corporate cuts.
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Bob Miller has signed off from Classic Hits 92.9 WBPM. His exit ends a 47-year radio career spent entirely in the Hudson Valley.
What We Know: Miller had hosted WBPM mornings since 2011, following 17 years at Oldies-turned-AC 97.7 WCZX. Colleagues, listeners, and local broadcasting veterans celebrated him at a retirement party. However, his show page vanished from the station’s website just hours after the final toast. Beyond the studio, Miller regularly supported nonprofits, including Alzheimer’s Association benefits.
What Remains Unclear: It’s unknown whether WBPM plans an on-air tribute or an archive of his work. Wake up with Randy Turner will succeed Miller in the daypart effective tomorrow.
What It Means: Ultimately, Miller’s legacy extends well beyond morning drive. Miller’s distinct cadence became the authority of the region. When he was asked what his immediate plans were for his first day of retirement at his celebration, Miller offered a very simple response: sleeping. As a result, his exit closes a chapter of radio built on deep community trust.
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Dana Johnson will leave KFROG at the end of 2026 after nearly a decade of her second tenure. The Audacy San Bernardino country host is moving to Columbus, Ohio, for a new radio opportunity.
What We Know: Johnson announced her departure in a social media video, revealing that she and her husband are moving to Columbus after previously relocating to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Although she left California more than two years ago, Johnson continued working remotely for KFROG and its Audacy country sister station, 103.7 KSON in San Diego. In addition to hosting middays, she served as Director of Promotions and Live Events for both brands. Johnson originally joined KFROG in 2007 before departing to work on The Big Time with Whitney Allen. She returned to the station in 2019 and has continued serving its audience remotely.
On Monday morning, it was announced that Johnson will be taking a morning co-host position at 92.3 WCOL in Columbus. She will be paired with Dan E. Zuko. He remains in the daypart after the exit of Kayla Hanley earlier this year.
What They Said: “This is a decision I have made on my own … I’ve been so grateful that we’ve been able to make KFROG and KSON work remotely … There is a big opportunity in radio, in Columbus, that I couldn’t pass up. At the end of the year, I will be leaving KFROG. KFROG is my life. I grew up on KFROG. I listened to KFROG for as long as I can remember. To being able to work here has been a dream.” -Dana Johnson
What Remains Unclear: Neither Audacy nor Johnson has shared details about who will succeed her on KFROG’s midday show or assume her promotions and live events responsibilities.
What It Means: Johnson’s exit will end a significant chapter with KFROG, where she built a career spanning two separate tenures. Meanwhile, her move to Columbus will give her an opportunity to continue working in radio while joining a new market.
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Country 106.1 KTEX has a new afternoon host. The Brenham/College Station, TX has hired former 93Q personality Gerardo Sproet.
What We Know: Sproet takes over weekdays from 2-6pm, effective today. Previously, he spent his entire career at Radio One Country 93Q KKBQ Pasadena/Houston. The Houston native started there in promotions in 2019 and first went on-air in 2022. He then rose to evenings in July 2023 and moved to middays in January 2025, before exiting in April.
What They Said: Dave Bayless, Program Director/morning co-host: “He’s choosin’ KTEX, I can tell! Gerardo brings big-market experience, a passion for country music and the kind of energy that fits right in with our team. We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to getting him connected with our friends and partners throughout the country music industry.”
What Remains Unclear: It remains unknown where David Bugenske is headed. Bugenske held the afternoon shift for the past year. He arrived in September 2025. Additionally, KTEX announced no other lineup changes. Terms and financials were also not released.
What It Means: For KTEX, the hire brings Houston-tested experience to Brenham/College Station. Meanwhile, Sproet lands his first job outside KKBQ. Ultimately, he returns to the air roughly six months after leaving 93Q. As a result, a homegrown Texas talent stays in the format.
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Today is an important and exciting day for Barrett Media. We are about to take one of the biggest swings in the history of our brand during one of the biggest weeks of the calendar year, Super Bowl week.
What we are aiming to do isn’t just about sports radio. It’s about the entire radio and podcast industry. This has been a goal of mine for the past decade. The only way to create memorable moments and find out what you’re capable of is to create a vision, take a risk, and prepare to do the best job you can.
And that’s exactly what we are going to do.
The Gold Standard in Industry Recognition
Since 2016, Barrett Media has annually recognized the best in radio. We highlight the industry’s best brands, talent, programmers, and shows across Major Markets, Mid Sized Markets, and the national circuit. What started with a focus on sports radio expanded to news/talk and music. It then extended into advertising last week.
Thanks to the support, trust and involvement from executives, programmers, and influential business leaders, we’ve been able to showcase how the industry views its best. But as awesome as the series has been online, I’ve always felt it deserved a larger stage.
So on Thursday, February 11th, it will receive one. We are going to host our first-ever, Top 20 in Radio Awards Show.
It’s Going Down in Hollywood
The event will take place at the Harmony Gold Preview House on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. It will run from 3p-6p PT and be free of charge. This means you don’t have to worry about missing dinner or any late night parties. You must be on our guest list to gain entry. This will be a hot ticket. 334 seats are available in the theater. I expect each one to be filled.
A few sponsorship opportunities are available for companies looking to make a statement during the biggest week in media. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to Stephanie Eads at Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com. All sponsorships are first-come, first-served.
The Top 20 in Radio Awards Show will be three hours in length. It will consist of one-hour of sports radio/podcasts, one-hour of news/talk radio/podcasts, and one-hour of music radio. 40+ awards in total will be presented during the three-hour ceremony. A number of notable personalities, executives and business leaders will be involved as category presenters.
A Decade of Influence
Barrett Media’s Top 20 series has been the largest traffic driver on this website for 10 years running. It generates massive amounts of social sharing, and earned media via articles and over the air television, radio and podcast discussions. It is also featured by brands in sales packages and a part of business conversations inside many operations. When talent, brands, and programming leaders earn top placement in this series, it reinforces how strong they are viewed by those who know the business.
If you enjoy following the series online, don’t worry, that is not going away. We will roll out the results online in January as we normally do. However, we will start with spots #5-#20 and save the big reveals for #1-#4 for the awards show. Once the show is complete, the Top 20 articles and social sharing for the top 4 will be updated.
Still to Come
We have a lot happening in 2027. This is a massive undertaking for our team and a big day/night for the best across the audio business. Categories, nominations, and vote collecting will begin in December. This year, the votes cast by decision makers carry even more weight because the winners get celebrated in front of the entire industry in Hollywood.
I’ll have more details to share leading up to the event including naming a special guest host for the event. We will also announce our dates and location for the 2027 Barrett Media Summit in a few weeks, relaunch The Jason Barrett Podcast, and reveal changes to our newsletters for 2027.
But we have time before tackling those items. For now, check out the video above and put the date, Thursday, February 11, 2027 on your schedule. We plan to turn this into an annual celebration, showcasing the business the way it deserves to be highlighted.
As the hook says in the video, ‘It’s going down in Hollywood‘. I look forward to seeing you there!
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
The old saying goes, “Less is more.” A smaller, simpler, or more restrained approach is often more effective than a large, cluttered, or complicated strategy. This year, ESPN will broadcast its first Super Bowl across five networks: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, and NFL Network. That’s five different ways to watch the biggest live event in American entertainment this February.
The move is bold and different, but it should be expected. ESPN has had years to prepare for the Super Bowl through its exclusive presentation of the College Football Playoff National Championship. The concept is simple: Instead of providing the same traditional broadcast, how can you potentially expand the audience by offering different approaches to the game? It’s a strategy uniquely suited to ESPN, but will it work for the Super Bowl?
Make no mistake about it, the Super Bowl coming to ESPN is a huge deal. For the past 60 years, the game has been available through a single network’s primary broadcast, giving advertisers and viewer one central destination. Over the past two decades, the Super Bowl has rotated among CBS, FOX, and NBC.
Now, with ESPN, the focus shifts to expanding the game’s reach and providing as many viewing options as possible.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call the game on ESPN and ABC. Who knows? It could even be the last time the duo calls a game together.
Then there’s ESPN megastar Pat McAfee and his Field Pass alternate broadcast on ESPNU. The Manning brothers will keep each other company on ESPN2, while NFL Network will offer a Next Gen Stats presentation of the big game. Who’s to say ESPNews won’t introduce another alternate broadcast? Could the ESPN App offer radio feeds for the two teams competing in the game?
That’s the power of ESPN. The Super Bowl represents the ultimate opportunity to flex that muscle by providing viewing options that no other NFL broadcast partner can match.
But will audiences embrace them?
Super Bowl Traditions
ESPN's first @SuperBowl presentation keeps growing!
Every network wants to maximize revenue and reach while delivering a viewing experience that feels fresh. Programmers constantly search for a new look, sound, or presentation that hooks viewers and keeps them coming back. But this is the Super Bowl. Its audience includes traditional viewers who value familiarity, alongside younger fans who consume content in entirely different ways.
Historically, the Super Bowl has been a singular destination. The priority has been to drive viewers to one central presentation. However, first impressions matter. This is ESPN’s first opportunity to showcase how it produces America’s biggest football game for its partner, the NFL.
Do Super Bowl fans really need different ways to watch the biggest game of the year when they’ve traditionally consumed just one? Probably not. The main Super Bowl broadcast strikes a rare balance among sports, entertainment, pop culture, and advertising. But will these AltCasts do the same? Would a SkyCast viewer miss the debut of a new Pepsi commercial? Would a Field Pass broadcast fully integrate the halftime performance?
With the added complexity and cross-promotion these presentations could require, the question is simple: Is it worth it?
ESPN has spent years refining its approach to the College Football Playoff National Championship, but less is more when it comes to the Super Bowl. ESPN had to build an audience for the College Football Playoff and establish the championship game as a major event. The Super Bowl is already Americana.
It’s peanut butter and jelly, fireworks, and a halftime show produced by Jay-Z. The game arrives every year with a built-in audience and established expectations. The Super Bowl is more than a football game, it’s America culture. ESPN doesn’t have to convince viewers why they should watch, as it has worked to do with the College Football Playoff National Championship.
A Risk Worth Taking?
Yet ESPN risks ignoring the principle of less is more. Rather than keeping viewers anchored in familiarity and enhancing that experience with a strong central presentation, the network is applying a strategy that has worked for a relatively new concept to an event with generations of history behind it.
ESPN has spent more than a decade developing the College Football Playoff National Championship into an event worthy of its biggest production ideas. Now, with the Super Bowl, the network has an opportunity to showcase everything it has learned on the biggest stage in sports.
But there’s a difference between expanding an audience’s options and overwhelming viewers with choices.
BREAKING NEWS: We will OFFICIALLY be doing a Field Pass for the Super Bowl this year..
We will also be doing select Monday Night Football games as well..
The Super Bowl doesn’t need ESPN to reinvent the viewing experience. It needs the network to deliver a broadcast that lives up to the moment. Alternate broadcasts have their place, but ESPN should be careful not to let the pursuit of innovation overshadow what has made the game an annual cultural phenomenon for generations.
ESPN finally has the Super Bowl it has spent years preparing for. The irony would be if, in trying to prove how much it can do with the game, the network forgets what made the game so special in the first place.
Sometimes, the biggest statement a network can make is knowing when to do less.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
The Podcast Study 2026 offers audio executives plenty to consider. Strategic Solutions Research and Point-to-Point Marketing designed the research to build on year one. Overall, the results reveal both major opportunity and a few warning signs. Hal Rood, a Partner at Strategic Solutions Research, explained what the two groups wanted to learn.
“We also wanted to lean into new ideas for revenue generation, because spot load has been added to podcasts over recent years,” Rood said. “At what point are we going to hit the limit in terms of spot load?”
Beyond revenue, the researchers also wanted to segment the podcast fan base. As a result, they identified two key groups: super fans and prime prospects. Moreover, they wanted the study to add something new to a crowded field of podcast research.
Super Fans and Prime Prospects
Super fans quickly became a headline finding. However, they make up a modest share of the audience. Their influence far outweighs their numbers, though.
“Super fans are about one out of six listeners, but they’re giving outsized usage and engagement,” Rood said. “Not only are they consuming a lot of the content for podcasts, but they’re engaging. That is a really key factor because the podcast space is so crowded.”
Prime prospects tell an equally important story. These listeners engage with podcasts, but they don’t consume as much content as super fans. Notably, the group is just as large as the super fan segment.
“Prime prospects like the product to the point that they’re engaging in some way,” shared Rood. “So how do we get them to use more of our content?”
Consequently, converting that group could effectively double the super fan base.
A Flashing Yellow Light on Ad Load
Meanwhile, the study raised concerns about ad load. Only 9% of respondents said they could tolerate more ads. Larger groups said they’re hearing more ads and changing their behavior because of it.
“There definitely is a flashing yellow light for ad load,” said the Strategic Solutions Research Partner. “Now, is it a red alert yet? No, but we’re seeing the canary in the coal mine.”
Fortunately, listeners appear willing to support content they love. Instead of adding spots, podcasters can offer subscription tiers and VIP clubs.
“Those are exciting opportunities,” Rood said. “Large groups of people want to join VIP clubs. Again, these are people who want to engage with the host and with the podcast in general.”
The Case for Charging More for Host Reads
Host-read ads emerged as another bright spot. In fact, the study found they deliver lasting value beyond a single spot. Listeners who hear a host endorse a brand remember that brand’s other ads better. They also think more favorably of it and show higher purchase intent.
“That host-read ad becomes fuel for better efficiency of an entire run-of-schedule campaign for that brand,” shared Rood. “That’s why I say, are we properly pricing the value of all of that? Advertisers should be paying extra, and a proper amount, for the value these host-read ads are providing.”
Rood believes the same logic applies in radio. Some stations already charge more for host endorsements, but he questions whether it’s enough.
“The question is, are we charging enough?” said the Strategic Solutions Research Partner. “Because the value is so obvious. It’s measurable.”
What Media Companies Should Do Now
So what should media companies do with all of this? Rood offered a clear starting point.
“First of all, find your super fans and make sure those super fans feel the love,” Rood said. “Find those prime prospects and get them deeper into the funnel, and ensure those prime prospects are more regularly using the brand or the podcast than they are right now. The regular usage from prime prospects, that’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to get these prime prospects more regularly consuming that podcast. That’s where you’re going to get the incremental growth.”
Notably, Rood also used a vivid image to describe the industry’s current position.
“The water in the harbor is rising at a rapid pace,” shared Rood. “But the water rising in the harbor is masking the fact that the boats in the harbor, to some degree, have leaks in their hulls. Some might have larger leaks than others, but across the whole space, we’re seeing leaks in the boats. What are those leaks? The leaks are content execution problems.”
Fixing the Content Leaks
Those leaks cost podcasters real listeners. Specifically, roughly a third of people who try a podcast tune out. They cite slow starts, off-topic hosts and boring talk.
“If someone tries your podcast for the first time and they’re disappointed, chances are they’re not coming back,” Rood said. “Better than even. So let’s plug the leaks in our boat with better content execution, because that’s within our control.”
These problems might sound familiar to radio programmers. Indeed, Rood sees clear parallels with the firm’s earlier radio research.
“It’s a lot of the same things,” said the Strategic Solutions Research Partner. “The hosts repeat themselves. The hosts start too slow. They break too slowly.”
Ultimately, Rood hopes the research leaves a lasting mark.
“It’s free research we’re offering because we want to make the space better and contribute to the whole endeavor,” Rood said.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
