One of the questions in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk was what would happen to The Charlie Kirk Show. His widow, and new Turning Point USA CEO, Erika Kirk has revealed what is in store in the future.
During Friday’s edition of The Charlie Kirk Show, the new Turning Point USA CEO joined the show to discuss the next steps for the program.
“The Charlie Kirk Show is not going anywhere,” said Kirk. “My husband’s voice will live on. The show will go on. We will have rotating hosts, rotating cast, rotating people coming on … Nothing is changing. But I want to preface: we’re not awkward, we’re not like weird, we’re not going to be tweeting as if it’s him. That’s tone deaf and really disturbing, and anyone who does that’s morbidly off. That’s not what’s happening.”
Kirk noted that the existing team at the program, including Executive Producer Andrew Kolvet, will continue to lead and produce the show. The assembled team will utilize clips of Kirk — whether it be from his show, speeches, debates, events on college campuses, or any other avenue in which Charlie Kirk spoke — as the basis for the program going forward.
“We need to be able to have people have a show where (the audience) can ask questions. ‘Hey, I’m up against this. What would Charlie say?’ We can play a clip of what Charlie said a month ago, a year ago,” Kirk said. “We have decades’ worth of my husband’s voice. We have unused material from speeches that he’s had that no one has heard yet … because my husband was so intentional about making sure that there was enough content.”
Kolvet noted that Kirk “would not do a speech unless we could get the video and the audio. 100%.”
“In the words of my husband, buckle up, because there is a lot of content to be had,” Kirk concluded. “And we have so many amazing things down the pipeline that we are working on currently that we will unveil in due time. I am so excited.”
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.
ESPN is shifting Emily Kaplan’s responsibilities for its NHL coverage, moving the longtime reporter toward a studio-focused insider role while scaling back her sideline work, according to a report by Front Office Sports.
Kaplan, who joined ESPN in 2017 after covering the NFL for Sports Illustrated’s MMQB, will still be onsite for major events, including NHL opening night on October 7.
However, she will increasingly operate in a capacity similar to league insiders Adam Schefter, Shams Charania, and Jeff Passan, delivering news, analysis, and breaking information for ESPN’s studio programming.
“This season we are positioning Emily to be our primary NHL insider,” ESPN said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “She will appear more regularly across ESPN NHL studio coverage and news and information shows. While continuing her in-game reporting for select marquee matchups. Including our opening night game with the Florida Panthers raising their championship banner and hosting the Blackhawks.”
Throughout her tenure at ESPN, Kaplan has established herself as a versatile reporter capable of balancing on-site reporting with in-depth analysis. Her coverage of playoff series, player developments, and team dynamics has earned recognition from both viewers and colleagues. Positioning her to succeed in a role that demands real-time reporting and contextual expertise.
In a feature piece with Barrett Media in 2023, Kaplan expounded on how she aims to always be better in her role with ESPN. She pointed to moments throughout the year where she meets with executives about her performance and how she can improve. But through it all she makes sure she remains objective and committed to reporting the facts.
“ESPN is a news-gathering organization, and we have a news desk that, to me, [is] sacred,” Kaplan said in 2023 to Barrett Media. “What they say is true because what we present to the fans is really important. Because I have a journalistic background, I’m constantly double-checking [and] making sure I feel super sound about my information.”
Kaplan’s move reflects a broader trend in sports media. Where reporters with deep league knowledge are increasingly being tasked with synthesizing breaking news for national audiences rather than focusing exclusively on live-game coverage. Kaplan’s transition is expected to amplify ESPN’s studio coverage and provide more consistent insider perspective during its NHL programming.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
The Daily Wire is expanding its entertainment offerings with the launch of Friendly Fire, a new podcast featuring Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, and Andrew Klavan.
The show promises to make Shapiro, Walsh, Knowles, and Klavan “clash like foes” as they “debate politics, culture, and the chaos of the day’s headlines.”
Additionally, special guests will also make appearances on the new program.
Friendly Fire pairs four of the Daily Wire’s most recognizable voices. Ben Shapiro, founder of The Daily Wire and author of multiple best-selling books, is known for his rapid-fire political analysis and sharp commentary.
Matt Walsh, a columnist and author, has gained prominence for his socially conservative perspectives and critique of modern cultural trends.
Michael Knowles, host of The Michael Knowles Show, combines humor and historical insight in his political commentary, while Andrew Klavan, an acclaimed novelist and conservative commentator, brings decades of experience in both fiction and media commentary.
The launch of Friendly Fire coincides with the platform’s October entertainment slate, which includes documentaries and feature films tackling historical, cultural, and social issues.
Titles include USS COLE: Al Qaeda’s Strike Before 9/11, a three-episode docuseries exploring the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole; The 1916 Project, examining the “racist roots of Planned Parenthood”; and Hiding in Plain Sight: America’s Trafficking Epidemic, which exposes how digital predators exploit apps to groom and traffic children.
“This year, we’ve been quietly curating a powerful content library that goes far beyond our world-famous podcasts,” said Mike Richards, Chief Content Officer and President of Daily Wire Entertainment. “What unites our growing slate is a commitment to telling great stories that speak truth, reflect the values our audience cares about, and give voice to those long underserved by the mainstream.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has shared new digital advertising projections, and podcast advertising is forecasted to see an increase in 2025.
A 7.9% year-over-year increase for podcast advertising is expected this year, according to the IAB. Other digital audio is expected to grow 4.7% overall.
In total, digital audio is expected to earn 10% of all advertising dollars, which is a significant forecast increase compared to previous projections.
Despite the increase for digital audio, the IAB had dropped its total advertising spending growth projections due to concerns about tariff increases. Previously, the organization shared that it expected a 7.3% increase in advertising budgets in 2025. That figure was decreased to 5.7% with the latest update.
“The marketplace reacts poorly to uncertainty,” IAB CEO David Cohen said. “The silver lining in all of this is that the overall attitude of buyers remains positive. Budgets may tighten somewhat, but they’re confident that digital media can deliver the measurable results they need.”
Results were in line with the IAB’s original 2025 projections. Total ad spending did grow by 7% in the first half of 2025. Despite that increase, 40% of the more than 200 businesses surveyed shared concerns about “macroeconomic headwinds and changing consumer habits.”
An additional 33% shared that they viewed difficulty in measurement as a challenge in increasing their advertising budgets.
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.
YouTube TV subscribers may soon lose access to Sunday Night Football, The Voice, and other NBCUniversal properties as the two sides clash over a carriage agreement set to expire at the end of the month.
The potential blackout underscores how the rise of YouTube TV has shifted the balance of power in streaming and live television. The platform, which has grown to about 10 million subscribers, is no longer a fringe service. It is now a major distributor with the ability to influence negotiations once dominated by traditional cable and satellite providers.
In a statement, NBCUniversal accused YouTube TV of rejecting competitive market rates while demanding special treatment.
“YouTube TV has refused the best rates and terms in the market, demanding preferential treatment and seeking an unfair advantage over competitors to dominate the video marketplace — all under the false pretense of fighting for the consumer,” the company said. “The result: YouTube TV customers will lose access to NBCUniversal’s premium programming.”
NBCUniversal has launched a broad messaging campaign to pressure YouTube TV. Viewers have already seen digital ads warning them they could soon lose access to marquee events and shows, from NFL games to Premier League soccer. The company also claimed YouTube TV is seeking to leverage Peacock, NBC’s own streaming service, at significantly lower rates while holding onto valuable subscriber data.
NBCUniversal has never gone dark in its U.S. history, even under previous ownership by Comcast or General Electric. That track record raises the stakes in the current standoff.
YouTube TV responded Thursday night, framing NBCUniversal’s demands as unreasonable and harmful to consumers.
“NBCUniversal is asking us to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for our subscribers,” the company said. “We are committed to working with NBCUniversal to reach a fair deal for both sides ahead of our current agreement expiring on September 30. If their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our subscribers a $10 credit.”
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.
Dan Patrick believes the divide between athletes and the media often comes down to one misguided argument: the idea that journalists lack credibility because they never played the game. Speaking as a guest on the 4th and 1 podcast, Patrick made clear he’s grown tired of that criticism, noting that the same logic could easily be flipped.
“I don’t like when an athlete says, ‘Well, you never played,’” Patrick said. “Because if I said to an athlete who’s never been in TV, ‘Hey, you don’t know how to do TV. You can’t do TV the way I can.’ That’s not fair. It’s silly. Just because I didn’t play the game doesn’t mean I can’t understand the game. Doesn’t mean I can’t ask somebody about the game.”
Patrick argued that the marketplace ultimately determines whether someone in media belongs. Talent, consistency, and audience interest matter more than whether someone once suited up professionally.
“People get an opportunity to do this, and if they can do it well, they stay,” Patrick continued. “This is supply and demand. They either want to listen to you or they don’t. There’s no in between.”
While Patrick defended the role of non-athlete journalists in sports media, he also emphasized the responsibility that comes with the job. Too often, he said, commentary crosses into lazy opinion rather than informed perspective.
“I hope that the opinions are well-based, well-researched,” Patrick said. “Because you can just say, ‘Man, you threw so many interceptions by being careless,’ but that’s not fair to throw a blanket over somebody. If I said, ‘Hey, I spoke to somebody who played against you, and they said this was the book on you,’ okay — at least I’ve been fair in coming up with an opinion on something instead of just saying something.”
Patrick believes athletes have a right — and even a duty — to challenge members of the media to maintain high standards. In his view, the industry has drifted too far from its journalistic roots.
“I hope the athlete continues to call out members of the media for us to do our homework,” Patrick said. “I think there’s less journalism going on now. We’re making a big deal about Pablo Torre and the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. Well, that used to be what our business was. It was journalism. It was reporting. Trying to find out what was going on. And I think there’s less and less of that, because I think there’s more and more just, ‘Let me throw out a hot take.’”
For Patrick, the balance between sharp opinion and responsible reporting is critical. As the media landscape shifts toward debate-driven content, he said the challenge is ensuring credibility doesn’t get lost in the process.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
The Jingle Ball has become an annual tradition for Z100. The New York station has announced its performance lineup, as well as plans to raise money for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation in the process.
The 2025 edition of the event will be held on Friday, December 12th, at 7 PM at the famed Madison Square Garden. It marks the 29th consecutive year that the Jingle Ball will be held at the arena, where it’s been since 1996.
The Jingle Ball 2025 lineup includes performances by Alex Warren, BigXthaPlug, Conan Gray, Ed Sheeran, Jessie Murph, Laufey, MONSTA X, Myles Smith, Nelly, Ravyn Lenae, Reneé Rapp, Zara Larsson, and a “special sing-along moment” for KPOP Demon Hunters.
“Z100’s Jingle Ball is New York City’s iconic holiday concert, featuring the biggest names in pop music and celebrating the hottest songs of the year,” said Z100 Program Director Mark Adams. “Few events capture the spirit of the holiday season like Jingle Ball. We’re again looking forward to welcoming the best radio listeners in the world to another packed Madison Square Garden for an incredible night of music and memories.”
$1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring pediatric medical patients through entertainment and education-focused initiatives.
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.
Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, is heading to Amazon Prime Video as part of a larger shift in how sports and culture podcasts are being distributed. Select episodes are now available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S., including the show’s recent blockbuster interview with Taylor Swift.
The move to Prime Video illustrates the blurring lines between podcasts and television. More podcasts are producing video episodes to meet shifting consumption habits, with YouTube emerging as the primary platform for podcast viewing. Amazon’s decision to bring New Heights into its Prime lineup shows how streaming giants are working to position themselves as alternatives to YouTube in the podcast space.
The shift also comes after Amazon’s reorganization of Wondery, its podcasting studio. Wondery previously held distribution and ad sales rights for New Heights. However, Amazon split Wondery into separate units earlier this year. Its creator-led, video-focused shows — including New Heights and Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert — moved under a newly formed division called Creator Services.
According to Amazon, the group’s mission is to “drive scaled listenership and unlock broader and long-lasting relationships across Amazon.”
Meanwhile, Wondery’s narrative podcast division transitioned to Audible, another Amazon-owned platform. The restructuring also led to 110 layoffs and the exit of Wondery’s CEO. Signaling a new chapter in Amazon’s podcasting strategy.
By adding New Heights to Prime Video, Amazon is following a model it has already tested with other high-profile shows. LeBron James’s Mind the Game, launched in April, was immediately distributed across Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Echo devices. James also served as a Prime Day spokesperson, reflecting Amazon’s strategy of leveraging marquee personalities across multiple platforms.
For the Kelces, the partnership represents another step in broadening the reach of their already massive audience. While all episodes of New Heights will remain on YouTube. Prime Video users will now have access to the show’s most recent episodes. That dual availability is becoming a standard approach for podcasts seeking to maximize both reach and revenue opportunities across platforms.
Amazon acquired Wondery in 2020 for a reported $300 million. Under its umbrella, Wondery signed massive deals — including a three-year, nine-figure pact with the Kelce brothers — as it tried to establish itself as a top-tier content house in the podcasting boom.
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.
Hudson Valley radio listeners won’t have to wait long to hear a familiar voice back on their morning drive. Robyn Taylor is set to make her return to Classic Rock 101.5 WPDH on Monday just months after signing off from The Boris and Robyn Show. Taylor is returning to the station as part of a refreshed morning lineup. Her comeback begins Monday, where she will rejoin The Boris Show with regular daily segments and a renewed presence in the community.
Taylor originally retired in July after more than 40 years on the air, including over a decade anchoring mornings alongside Boris. At the time, she said her decision was tied to health considerations and a desire to enjoy life away from the daily grind of broadcasting. Many listeners assumed it was the close of an era.
The station announced that Taylor is back, bringing her signature mix of wit, personality, and rock expertise to WPDH’s audience. Listeners can expect her popular Rock News segment each weekday at 8:45 a.m., a feature that has long been one of the show’s staples.
Taylor will also play a key role in WPDH’s upcoming 50th anniversary celebration, sharing stories from her decades on the air and reflecting on her lifelong connection to classic rock.
In addition to her traditional role, Taylor will remain on the air longer each day, expanding her contributions to the program. Fans can look forward to the return of her Monday Morning Stoner Report as well as new features, such as the Tuesday Morning Time Warp, which revisits classic tracks and memorable moments from past decades.
Her return marks more than just a reunion with Boris. It underscores WPDH’s commitment to both honoring its legacy and continuing to evolve in an increasingly competitive morning radio landscape.
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.
YouTube and Rumble have been competing for conservative voices for the past several years. Now, with YouTube announcing it will reverse bans placed on accounts that ran afoul of its COVID-19 and 2020 election policies, the platform is effectively admitting it may have gone too far in limiting discussion.
The decision doesn’t just raise questions about how the company balances moderation and free expression. It also forces us to ask whether Rumble owes part of its audience growth to YouTube’s prior decisions.
Earlier this week, YouTube told the House Judiciary Committee that it will welcome back creators previously banned for violating now-defunct rules.
“(YouTube) terminated channels for repeatedly violating its Community Guidelines on elections integrity content through 2023 and COVID-19 content through 2024,” the company said in a letter to the committee. “Today, YouTube’s Community Guidelines allow for a wider range of content regarding COVID-19 and elections integrity. Reflecting the Company’s commitment to free expression, YouTube will provide an opportunity for all creators to rejoin the platform if the Company terminated their channels for repeated violations of COVID-19 and elections integrity policies that are no longer in effect.
“YouTube values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes that these creators have extensive reach and play an important role in civic discourse. The Company recognizes these creators are among those shaping today’s online consumption, landing ‘must-watch’ interviews, giving viewers the chance to hear directly from politicians, celebrities, business leaders, and more,” it concluded.
That is about as clear a corporate walk-back as you’ll ever see. YouTube is now admitting that, under the rules it has today, creators who were silenced in 2020, 2021, and 2022 would still have a voice. In other words, the company is conceding that it enforced a standard it no longer believes should exist.
For creators, that may feel hollow. Losing a channel means losing revenue, reach, and influence. Some of the most prominent voices who were banned turned to alternative platforms like Rumble, where they not only rebuilt their followings but also helped fuel the platform’s rapid growth.
According to new Pew Research Center data, 49% of all Rumble users get news on the platform, while only 41% of YouTube users do the same. That eight-point gap may not sound like much, but in the attention economy, it’s a lifetime.
Illustration: Pew Research Center
It’s worth wondering if Rumble would be nearly as competitive today had YouTube simply allowed a broader range of views earlier.
YouTube will frame this as a recommitment to free expression. And to its credit, this is a big step. Reinstating previously banned creators shows a willingness to admit mistakes and correct them. But it’s impossible to ignore the timing. The decision comes as lawmakers continue to scrutinize Big Tech’s influence on political speech. YouTube’s letter was addressed to a congressional committee for a reason. This wasn’t just a policy update. It was a political signal.
That’s what makes this reversal complicated. If YouTube truly values conservative voices and civic discourse, why were those voices removed in the first place? The company argues it was following the rules it had at the time. But rules aren’t made in a vacuum. They’re shaped by corporate values, public pressure, and political winds. And in the most politically charged moments of the past four years, YouTube’s rules narrowed speech rather than expanded it.
That narrowing created a lane for Rumble to fill. When YouTube made certain conversations off-limits, Rumble stepped in and offered a place where those conversations could happen. Audiences followed. Conservative commentators followed.
And while YouTube is still the dominant platform, it would be wild to suggest otherwise, it is right to open the door again. But the damage has already been done. Trust is hard to rebuild, especially with creators who feel they were punished for viewpoints that are no longer against the rules. Many of them will return, but they’ll likely keep a foot planted on Rumble. Because if YouTube could change its rules once, it could change them again.
In the end, this is a story about missed opportunities. YouTube had the chance to be the home for every kind of civic conversation, even the ones that make us uncomfortable. Instead, it ceded ground to a competitor by deciding that fewer voices, not more, was the safer path. Rumble seized the moment. And now, YouTube is trying to undo the consequences of its own choices.
The question is whether it’s too late. Creators may come back, but audiences are creatures of habit. If people are already used to going to Rumble for news and commentary, YouTube’s mea culpa might not be enough to win them back. For all of its market dominance, YouTube is learning a lesson every broadcaster knows: once you give the audience a reason to try something new, you may never get them fully back.
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.
