A South Florida radio era is ending. iHeartMedia is overhauling the on-air lineup at hip-hop WMIB 103.5 The Beat in Miami.
What We Know: Longtime afternoon host “Papa Keith” Walcott is transitioning after more than a decade on afternoons. He moves into a new role as National Brand Partnerships Multicultural Specialist for iHeartMedia. DJ Entice steps up from evenings to replace him in afternoons. Slim City and Billy Blue will handle nights from 6–10pm, while Ferrari and BT from Atlanta’s 96.1 The Beat add late nights from 10pm to 2am.
What They Said: Walcott reflected on the move with both gratitude and excitement. “For more than 30 years, radio has given me the opportunity to connect with the community,” he said. “As I pass the torch to DJ Entice, someone who represents the energy and passion of 103.5 The Beat, I know afternoons are in great hands.” Market President Shari Gonzalez called Walcott’s impact on South Florida radio decades deep, adding the station is “excited to see his impact continue to grow both on and off the air.”
What Remains Unclear: No timeline has been announced for when the new lineup officially launches. Additionally, it’s unclear whether Walcott’s “Common Sense PhD.” podcast will expand in scope under his new corporate platform. His Saturday morning show continues, but further details about that role remain vague.
What It Means: Papa Keith’s departure from afternoons leaves a notable void. He spent more than a decade building loyalty and cultural credibility in that daypart. DJ Entice is talented and well-positioned — but replacing a voice that ingrained in a market is never simple. South Florida listeners will ultimately decide how that transition lands.
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KNZR host Jaz McKay has departed the station. A national show is set to replace the local talent.
What We Know: McKay originally exited the station in 2018 amid pushback about comments made on his personal Facebook account. However, after serving as a guest host earlier this year, he returned in the 9-12 AM PT window. However, he has announced his exit from the show. In his stead, The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show has been added to the KNZR lineup. McKay was slated to move to afternoon drive on Monday before his exit.
What They Said: “I’m done with radio for good I think…I don’t need the aggravation of working with jerks. And I’m good with it … I just can’t work with people who really don’t want to be working with me. I don’t need it.” -Jaz McKay
What Remains Unclear: What led to McKay’s departure. He did not elaborate on what led him to exit the program. McKay alluded to an issue with the station’s program director. However, he did not elaborate further.
What It Means: It marks another affiliate for The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, which continues to add to its reach. However, it is the loss of what was the only local program originating from KNZR. The Bakersfield market should be large enough to support a local show.
— The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show (@clayandbuck) June 11, 2026
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One of the major questions podcast advertisers have is how many people skip their spots. New YouGov data puts that question into perspective.
What We Know: A YouGov study of more than 1,300 media consumers who listen to radio, audio podcasts, video podcasts, and streaming music showed that the overwhelming majority either usually or sometimes skip podcast advertisements.
What the Numbers Show:
Response When an Ad Plays During a Podcast
Percentage
I usually skip or tune out
52%
I sometimes skip or tune out
16%
It depends on the ad
12%
I usually listen to or watch the ad
8%
Don’t know
8%
I stop listening or watching altogether
4%
Despite the figures, only 25% of those same respondents said that podcast ads were the most annoying or disruptive. That figure pales in comparison to online display ads (50%), YouTube/other video platforms (46%), and TV/video streaming ads (42%).
What They Said: “One of the most distinctive things about podcast ads is how frequently they’re not listened to. Half of Americans who answered say they usually skip or tune out podcast ads when they come on.” –YouGov Senior Business Data Journalist Clifton Mark
What It Means: Podcast advertising has continually risen in recent years. The data from YouGov puts into perspective how much of it is skipped. Despite those figures, the audience is largely not annoyed or turned off by the advertisements, however. The abundance of host-read ads could be one of the major reasons why that figure is noticeably lower than other formats.
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Beasley Media Group has a new leader in Tampa. Will Calder joins the company as Operations Manager of its six-station cluster, effective today.
What We Know: Calder steps into a role overseeing programming and brand strategy for WLLD-FM, WQYK-FM, WRBQ-FM, WYUU-FM, and WHFS-AM. He most recently served as Director of Programming and Operations at Audacy’s Power 96 in Miami. He also managed Mix 105.1 in Orlando. Calder previously worked in Tampa at Cox Media Group’s Hot 101.5, giving him direct familiarity with the market.
What They Said: Chief Content Officer Justin Chase spoke directly to Calder’s fit for the position. “Will is an outstanding programmer and leader with a proven track record of building great brands, developing talent, and driving results,” Chase said. “Having previously worked in the Tampa market, he understands both our audience and our opportunity.” Market Manager Ron deCastro added that few people understand Florida radio as well as Calder does.
What Remains Unclear: Calder succeeds Rick Thomas, who departed recently to pursue his next chapter. No details have been released about Thomas’s next move. It’s also unclear how quickly Calder will begin implementing changes across the cluster’s brands.
What It Means: Beasley Tampa is signaling a clear focus on brand-building and local relevance. Calder brings experience across multiple Florida markets — a meaningful advantage in a competitive radio landscape. His arrival suggests the company is prioritizing proven programming leadership at the cluster level. For a group with strong legacy brands, that kind of continuity-minded hire could matter.
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What We Know: MLS signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion exclusive deal with Apple in 2022 — the first of its kind for a global sports property. For three seasons, most games were locked behind the MLS Season Pass paywall, an added $99-per-season cost beyond Apple TV’s base subscription. Average viewership fell sharply. Before the 2026 season, MLS and Apple eliminated that second paywall, making every game available to standard Apple TV subscribers at no extra charge. The deal was also restructured to end after the 2029 season.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber doesn’t regret the Apple media rights deal with MLS: “It was a great idea. You’re running a business, particularly one that’s got to be bold and innovative. Shame on us if we didn’t go and take the risk of being the first global property to ever go and stream their games. Honestly, it wasn’t about money. Because when you’re dealing with the amount of money they were paying in a multi billion dollar business, it was about the idea of what Apple could do to bring us to a global audience with easy access on any internet of device. Plus to have the promotion, energy, innovation, and technology of Apple behind us, and focusing it on us.”
MLS Commissioner Don Garber believes the MLS rights deal with Apple may have taught lessons: “I’m really happy where we are today. The experiment of a paid subscription didn’t work. Do I think we’re going there at some point in the future? Maybe five years, maybe 10 years? I agree with that, but we were early.”
MLS Commissioner Don Garber believes media rights will continue to grow with streaming platforms: “I’m a big believer in the digital transformation. A big believer that the world is moving to Netflix airing sports. When I was out in the market, they said never. I think they are very smart in what they do, their event strategy. Bella [Bajaria] and Ted [Sarandos] are doing a great job, but times change. A couple years ago they weren’t in sports at all. A couple years ago, Amazon, YouTube wasn’t doing sports. Today, they have Sunday Ticket and all the other things they’re doing. Years from now, this business is going to look dramatically different than it did when we went out to market. So, what it looks like when we’re negotiating our new media deal two and a half years from now, I can’t say.”
What Remains Unclear: MLS’s revised Apple deal now runs through the 2029 season. The league’s limited linear package with FOX Sports expires at the end of this season. Furthermore, exactly which streaming platforms — and at what rights value — will be in play when MLS returns to market remains to be seen.
What It Means: Garber’s comments reflect a commissioner at peace with a bold bet that arrived ahead of its time. And the changes that needed to be made with it. The streaming landscape he described — Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube all now active sports players — validates his long-term thesis. Even if MLS paid a viewership price in the short term. With the 2026 World Cup generating soccer momentum across North America, the league’s next media rights negotiation could land in a far more favorable environment than the one it left behind. Especially one that fits Garber’s feelings that streaming is the future over broadcast.
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After a tumultuous period, pen has been put to paper. Lesley Stahl is remaining with 60 Minutes.
What We Know: Stahl has signed a two-year extension to remain with 60 Minutes, according to a report from Status’ Oliver Darcy. She has been a 60 Minutes correspondent since 1991.
What’s At Stake: Stahl’s extension comes after she, Jon Wortheim, and Bill Whitaker announced they would remain with the show following the upheaval after the end of the most recent season. Currently, those three are the only correspondents on staff. Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Scott Pelley were all fired by the network. Anderson Cooper declined to renew his contract with the news magazine.
What Remains Unclear: If Whitaker and Wortheim signed similar contract extensions. No statements have been made about their contractual status. It is also unclear if Lesley Stahl views this as her final contract with the network. She turns 85 during the upcoming season of the show.
What It Means: Solidifying Lesley Stahl’s status with the show is a win for CBS News. There were legitimate concerns about whether or not she, Whitaker, and Wortheim would return. Her institutional knowledge of the show, the network, and colleagues is a benefit to Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton as they reshape the program.
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Changes are coming to Indianapolis’ sports radio leader, The Fan 93.5FM/107.5FM. Query & Company shifts to 10 a.m.–1 p.m., with The Rich Eisen Show sliding in immediately after from 1–3 p.m.
What We Know: The Fan is restructuring its weekday schedule. Query & Company, hosted by Jake Query, moves earlier to 10 a.m. The Rich Eisen Show fills the 1–3 p.m. slot beginning June 15. The move will eliminate ESPN Radio syndication from 10am-12pm. The daypart has been without a permanent host since Clinton Yates departed ESPN Radio is late March.
What They Said: Andrea Kahrer, Vice President and General Manager for Radio One Indiana: “As listener habits continue to evolve, it’s important that our lineup evolves with them. Moving Query & Company up in the day allows us to build on the momentum Jake has established. All while creating a stronger, more cohesive programming strategy across the entire day. The addition of Rich Eisen gives our audiences access to one of the more respected voices in sports, making the Fan’s weekday lineup stronger.”
Program Director David Wood: “We are thrilled to add Rich Eisen to The Fan lineup. Rich has built a national reputation for credibility, intelligence, and entertaining conversation. His ability to connect with sports fans while delivering thoughtful analysis makes him a perfect addition to our programming.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether or not considerations will be made at a later date to include the first hour of Rich Eisen’s program on the station.
What It Means: Without a permanent host named for over two months on ESPN Radio, the move makes sense for The Fan. Shift your syndication plan to a proven entity in Eisen, while expanding your morning programming to a local voice. Whether or not this becomes a trend among stations that used to carry Clinton & Friends is unknown. However, perhaps The Fan saw better opportunity for growth with expansion in mornings instead of catering to middays.
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FOX Sports is going all-in on YouTube for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The network launched a 24/7 live stream on its YouTube page. It runs from the opening match through the tournament’s final whistle.
What We Know: According to reporting by Sports Business Journal, the continuous digital feed will feature studio programming. In addition to match previews, condensed highlights, and watch parties. It will also include content from First Things First, and Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast. In addition, there will be cooking segments, and correspondent reports from contributors like Jameis Winston. Notably, the stream will air the first five minutes of every World Cup match with no authentication required. Also, the first five minutes of each second half.
What They Said: FOX Sports SVP/Digital Michael Bucklin (via SBJ): “For the group stage, once that five-minute preview ends, we have cameras in bars and FIFA fan zones across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, so we can kick to a live watch party. So you’re watching fans in all these fan zones and bars and all these other locations, public squares and whatnot, experiencing these games. And as you know from the past, some of these clips from these watch parties are what go viral. All of the English fans throwing their beers up in the air when Jude Bellingham scores. These are moments that you can essentially watch live while the game is on TV.”
FOX Sports SVP/Digital Michael Bucklin (via SBJ): “We will have a person working every second of every day for the entirety of the World Cup. A lot of it is this new technology that allows us to put it on the timeline and have it run all night.”
What Remains Unclear: FOX Sports plans to prioritize American-focused programming for the stream. However, how much global FIFA content ultimately makes the stream remains to be seen. YouTube’s surging international viewership could also attract audiences well beyond FOX’s core U.S. demographic.
What It Means: This is a real time example of providing a sense World Cup action for audience on the move around the globe. FOX Sports is treating YouTube as a legitimate broadcast extension, not just a highlights dump.
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Approaching The Summit is a series of special interviews created in partnership with Point to Point Marketing featuring speakers at the upcoming 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit in New York City. Follow along with this series as prominent names surrounding the event June 30-July 2 share their insights and expectations for what’s to come in the big apple. The Summit takes place at the SVA Theatre on West 23rd Street. For tickets and hotel room reservations, click here or visit the Summit section at the top of the website.
Scott Shapiro is the senior vice president of FOX Sports Radio and Premiere Networks at iHeartMedia, and he has attended every iteration of the BSM Summit over the years. Shapiro previously worked at ESPN as a director of programming across several national shows and produced Mike & Mike in the Morning.
Shapiro has the distinction of speaking at every Barrett Media Sports Summit he’s attended. He will be speaking at the event later this month. He sat down with Barrett Media from his office in Los Angeles, CA.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
John Mamola: What are you looking forward to the most later this month at the Barrett Media Audio Summit?
Scott Shapiro: What I look forward to most every year is learning. I love sitting in that room and just hearing smart people talk about their craft. What works, but also the challenges—and hearing their passion.
I love this industry. I love that we all get to do this for a living. It’s incredible.
If I wasn’t working in this industry, I would be consuming it and be so interested in the mechanics of it. But it’s great to be working in it because it aligns with my passions.
When you’re in a room like this with the leaders of the industry I’m most passionate about and fortunate to work in, there’s so much you can learn. The way the summit has always been set up allows very smart people in the industry to let you dive into their heads in terms of what works and what their goals are. I could sit there all day and not even get up.
I’m a student of this game. It’s fascinating to learn from a lot of the brightest minds. On top of that, I love being able to connect with people whom oftentimes you only see once a year. It’s just a tremendous convention for us in this crazy game.
I absolutely love that it happens. That’s why I’m one of a handful of people who have been fortunate enough to attend every one of these. I remember very fondly that very first year in Chicago in a relatively small room compared to what it is now. It seemed like dozens of people at the time.
To see what it’s grown into now is outstanding. There’s a need in the industry for it to have become this. I credit the entire BSM team and Jason [Barrett] for growing it into what it is now. The results every year get bigger and bigger.
John Mamola: What type of value do you think the Barrett Media Audio Summit provides that some other conferences or events you attend throughout the year do not?
Scott Shapiro: It’s very targeted. That’s why this year is going to be so fascinating with three consecutive days focused on three different genres. I love that there’s an attempt to try new things and see if it can become even more focused and tailored to the audience at hand.
You go to other conferences, and they may talk about different genres or different sides of the business. It might be something that’s too broad or too specific. You may not necessarily be speaking the same language as others in different parts of the industry.
When I look at my role and the challenges and ideas that I face every day, if you were to check a box in terms of what my role is and what many roles in the industry are, then look at the content and the folks speaking at the summit, it directly aligns with all of those things.
To me, it’s so pivotal compared to others. It’s a workshop, a summit, and a convention that’s right in line with content providers, executives, and advertisers. It speaks our language in terms of what we do each and every day.
John Mamola: You’ve spoken on a number of panels throughout the years. When you’re approaching being on stage, what do you hope attendees take away each time you’re up there?
Scott Shapiro: Honestly, it’s transparency and perspective. Ideally, one of the crowning achievements of the summit is that it lifts up the industry for all. If we’re not all trying to grow this thing, it’s not going to exist.
It’s a celebration of what we do in sports media, but it’s also a melting pot of ideas to grow the industry and keep it vibrant and successful over time.
No matter what the topic is that I’m discussing, I just want to add my perspective. I want to add my color and give insight into some of the decisions and challenges that we face.
Honestly, if it’s going to make anybody else in the room smarter, give them ideas, or at least prompt them to think differently, that’s my goal.
John Mamola: We’re combining news, sports, and music for the first time this year. Is there a specific speaker or topic you’re looking forward to hearing discussed later this month?
Scott Shapiro: You guys keep one-upping yourselves. Pretty much every new batch of speakers that gets announced, I’m thinking to myself, “Wow, I want to see that.” It’s a tremendous roster. Thankfully, that’s something I’ve been saying for many years now.
There have been so many meaningful speakers throughout the years. I’ve got my popcorn ready for all of it.
Ideally, when I look at the topics that resonate most with me, it’s about all of the platforms speaking to each other and growing for the future. That’s the biggest thing.
Whether it’s video or social media, it’s about all of the platforms and how to create the best multi-platform, 360-degree approach to succeed five to ten years from now. To me, those are the biggest conversations about the future of this business and how we can keep putting points on the board.
John Mamola: You’re in a unique position overseeing a national brand with Fox Sports Radio. Now that we’re combining the summit with news, sports, and music, is your plan to dabble in those days as well?
Maybe pull some nuggets of information from other wings of the industry that you can apply to your role at Fox Sports Radio?
Scott Shapiro: Absolutely. The news day, even more specifically, because of the talk format. There are so many parallels to what makes a successful personality, no matter what type of talk it is. There are a lot of attributes and correlations that can work for sports talent.
Some of those news philosophies, frankly, why couldn’t they work for sports? You’ve got to be open-minded and willing to think outside your own box. I have not been fortunate enough to attend any of the news summits in the past.
So, I do think that’s a tremendous privilege—to be able to sit through that and come away with some takeaways.
John Mamola: What do you believe are the biggest opportunities and challenges the industry currently faces?
Scott Shapiro: There are two challenges, and they’re kind of on opposite sides of the aisle.
In a very cluttered marketplace, there are so many content providers across so many different platforms. How can you command the audience’s attention? How can you be top of mind when a big story happens in sports?
There are so many options competing for people’s time. How can you create the mindset that you have the content people aspire to listen to or watch? How do you get people’s attention? I love hearing ideas with that focus in mind.
On the other hand, it’s the advertising industry. Same thing. There are so many providers and places where people can park their advertising dollars.
It’s a tough time right now with the economy and the advertising market. Many budgets have been cut. How can you have the best content that audiences want to seek out and find? And how can you create sales-friendly and successful products that advertisers will feel comfortable investing in?
Whether they have unlimited budgets or limited budgets, why are they going to choose your company to invest their advertising dollars?
John Mamola: What would you say to somebody who is still on the fence about making that personal investment in themselves to attend? What’s the specific gain that people may not be thinking about when it comes to attending this event?
Scott Shapiro: It’s a tremendous opportunity to meet many successful leaders in the industry, both on the air and behind the scenes. It’s rare when you get all of those types of people in one room.
Frankly, I’m not sure you can replicate it at any other point during the year.
It’s a tremendous opportunity to meet people you otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to meet. Then, when you’re sitting in the room, there are just so many takeaways and lessons to be learned. I’ve gone every year for that reason.
Yes, I work for a company that supports and is deeply involved with the summit. However, I feel blessed to be there because of those relationships and the things I’m able to learn.
If you’re serious about this industry—whether you’re trying to enter it for the first time, get back into it, or network to grow within it—there are so many reasons why it’s important to be in a room like this.
Scott Shaprio (Canva | Barrett Media)
Purchase your tickets to the 2026 BSM Summit here, and for more information BarrettMedia.com
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Yahoo Sports MMA commentator Ariel Helwani isn’t buying the hype. The veteran MMA journalist pushed back hard on UFC President Dana White’s bold claim that UFC Freedom 250 will draw Super Bowl-like viewership numbers.
What We Know: UFC Freedom 250 takes place this Sunday night on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. The historic seven-fight card streams exclusively on Paramount+. The event is headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane meet in the co-main event for the interim heavyweight belt. White, speaking with TNT Sports UK, predicted the event would rival the Super Bowl’s massive audience — a benchmark that routinely exceeds 125 million viewers. Helwani disagreed on the latest edition of The Ariel Helwani Show.
What They Said:: Ariel Helwani countering Dana White’s prediction that UFC Freedom 250 will do “Super Bowl-like” numbers: “It’s an impossible number to get to, in my opinion. When you consider that the Super Bowl did 130 on average. It [UFC Freedom 205] does numbers across the world. I just think it’s gonna be impossible [to do Super Bowl like numbers].
Ariel Helwani says Dana White’s viewership prediction is part of the hype machine: “I get Dana’s [White] a promoter, and you have to hype your event. But wasn’t he just on camera this weekend saying, ‘Do I ever lie on camera?” Well, yes, we could probably use that drop from now until the end of time. He will embellish, lie, stretch all that and more.”
Ariel Helwani says UFC Freedom 250 hosted on a Sunday night will affect the global viewership number: “The main card will be airing in Ireland on a Monday at 1am. Who’s watching this on a Monday morning? It’s not Saturday night, so I think that’s going to affect the global number. It’s a work day. Now you want to talk US [viewership] number only. Well, 8pm to 1am is still going to be a tough sell for people who are working the next day.”
What Remains Unclear:: Whether White’s Super Bowl viewership prediction becomes reality.
What It Means:: Helwani’s skepticism is mired in facts. Meanwhile, White had to clarify Wednesday that his comments were meant to mean a global audience for the upcoming event. However, the Paramount+ subscriber base may not meet a global Super Bowl like audience. However, Freedom 250 is genuinely unprecedented in setting. Moreover, the event will likely set MMA viewership records — just nowhere near the NFL’s championship standard.
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