Scott Jennings has sent threatening messages from Keith Olbermann to the FBI after they were published to social media on Monday.
On X, Keith Olbermann responded to a post published by the CNN contributor and Salem Radio Network host. Olbermann wrote “You’re next,” followed by an expletive.
He later followed up by stating, “But keep mugging to the camera.”
It is unclear what post from Scott Jennings touched a nerve with Olbermann. However, Jennings did respond to the situation. He tweeted a screenshot of the messages from Olbermann to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Olbermann subsequently deleted the messages. Patel has yet to comment publicly on the matter.
On Tuesday afternoon, The Countdown with Keith Olbermann host walked back his comments.
I oppose and condemn political violence, and the threat of it. All times are the wrong time to leave even an inadvertent impression of it – but this time is especially wrong
I should've acknowledged the deletion and apologized yesterday. I'm sorry I delayed.
“I apologize without reservation to (Scott Jennings),” Olbermann wrote. “Yesterday, I wrote and immediately deleted 2 responses to him about Kimmel because they could be misinterpreted as a threat to anything besides his career. I immediately replaced them with ones specifying what I actually meant.
“I oppose and condemn political violence, and the threat of it. All times are the wrong time to leave even an inadvertent impression of it – but this time is especially wrong I should’ve acknowledged the deletion and apologized yesterday. I’m sorry I delayed.”
Jennings discussed the situation on his radio show, marking himself safe from ‘that nut’ Keith Olbermann. He said of Olbermann, ‘he is the poster boy for left-wing outrage and progressive-ism’.
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After nearly 25 years behind the mic, Bert Weiss has announced he will retire from The Bert Show. The nationally syndicated morning program will host its final broadcast on Friday, October 24, 2025.
Weiss launched the show in 2001, turning a fledgling Atlanta signal into a nationally recognized brand. With his candid style, quick humor, and ability to connect on a human level, Weiss helped redefine morning radio. The show became a destination for listeners seeking both laughs and real talk, whether it was Justin Bieber’s first radio appearance or Usher crediting an on-air conversation for inspiring his Confessions album.
Beyond ratings and celebrity moments, Weiss built his legacy through Bert’s Big Adventure, the nonprofit he founded to take children with chronic and terminal illnesses – and their families – on life-changing trips to Walt Disney World. Even in retirement, Weiss plans to continue to lead the organization.
Over two decades, The Bert Show expanded from Atlanta to more than two dozen markets, with millions of podcast downloads each month. Weiss earned induction into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, recognition from the Friends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, and three National Radio Hall of Fame nominations.
“For 25 years, listeners have allowed me to be part of their mornings, their commutes and their lives – and that is the greatest gift of my career,” said Bert Weiss. “It’s almost unheard of in radio for an audience to stay with a show this long, and I’ll never take that loyalty for granted. Every laugh, every tough conversation and every shared moment has meant the world to me.”
Cumulus Media Chief Content Officer Brian Philips shared his appreciation for Weiss’ contributions, adding, “We launched Bert and team with a loose plan to electrify Atlanta radio with a bold, buzzing morning show on a brand-new Top 40 station, operating on a then-unreliable ‘move-in’ signal from Anniston, Alabama. In the ensuing 25 years, Bert emerged as the obsessive architect of humor, truthfulness and humanitarianism. With brilliant help from a hand-picked, evolving team, he built a national award-winning powerhouse. ‘The Bert Show Era’ is a historic chapter in Atlanta – and American – radio. As he reimagined the possibilities of morning entertainment, I’m sure he will attack retirement with wild, fun originality. Thank you, Bert.”
Weiss isn’t done creating. He’ll continue developing talent through Pionaire, the podcast consultancy he co-founded, while also looking forward to marriage, travel, and new adventures beyond the microphone.
After less than a week, ABC is set to end its suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with the show set to relaunch at 11:35 PM ET on Tuesday in what is likely to be the biggest audience in the show’s history.
If you’ve been enjoying your stay under a rock, let’s briefly reset the scene, shall we?
Kimmel’s suspension came after he argued that the assassin of Charlie Kirk was a member of the Make America Great Again movement, and laughed at the reaction from President Donald Trump to Kirk’s death.
In an appearance on Benny Johnson’s podcast two days later, FCC chair Brendan Carr called on ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel, arguing that the commission had a “strong case” against the late-night host for “an intentional effort to mislead the American people about a very core fundamental fact.”
ABC subsequently announced Kimmel’s suspension hours later, after affiliate ownership groups Sinclair and Nexstar announced they would preempt his late-night program.
Carr later championed the moves from Sinclair and Nexstar, stating that they did “the right thing” and took “quick action” to being “responsive to the needs and values of the local communities you serve.” He concluded by noting his hope that “other broadcasters follow” the lead set forth by those two entities.
So, now that we’re all caught up, I think there are three very intriguing questions to ponder ahead of the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! this evening.
Will Jimmy Kimmel Show Remorse, Double Down, or Completely Avoid the Topic Altogether?
This, in my opinion, is the biggest question mark of the entire ordeal.
Jimmy Kimmel would have every right, in my view, to be angry, bitter, and petty in his return. The opportunity to poke the bear would be difficult to pass up, especially for someone with Kimmel’s history.
But I don’t think he can afford to do that. Because it feels like the ice is dangerously thin already. It’s tough to justify being controversial, edgy, or envelope-pushing when two of the largest affiliate owners — Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group — have either previously stated they were no longer going to carry your show, or have reaffirmed their commitment to not broadcast your show.
Can Jimmy Kimmel afford to show remorse, either? If you’ve made your living on saying things you believe but sometimes people don’t want to hear, do you lose your credibility by looking like a company shill and doing their bidding? Now, it’s possible Kimmel found genuine remorse while reflecting on the controversy during his time away. That remorse, though, isn’t likely to play well with either side of the audience.
So, that’s a hell of a spot to be in.
Furthermore, Kimmel can’t just avoid the topic altogether. The “bury your head in the sand and hope all of your problems go away” strategy isn’t going to work here. He has to say something. Because even the most casual observer is going to take a peek at what he did — or in some cases — didn’t say, whether that be live, on YouTube/TikTok, or on any other of a variety of ways people consume content these days.
In some aspects, Jimmy Kimmel is in a no-win situation. Apologize, and supporters will call you a sell-out, while you load the cannons of those who already want to see you fail with even more ammunition, allowing them to take a victory lap at your expense.
Don’t apologize, and you risk straining the relationship with Disney, ABC, advertisers, and affiliates to a point that is like irreparable.
Say nothing, and no one feels satisfied about the situation. This is America, and we like to build people up to tear them down. But if you take that away, everyone has a thirst for blood because your choices have left them unfulfilled.
Talk about a conundrum. However, by the account of many in Hollywood, Jimmy Kimmel is a kind and decent man. I’ll choose to believe the best in him, and expect an apology that might stop short of actually apologizing for the things detractors would like him to apologize for.
I’ve prepared what I expect that apology to look like, and we’ll see how close I am later this evening.
“Hi, everybody. Thank you for being here. Anything going on in the news we should talk about? [awkward laugh] But seriously, I want to start tonight by talking about the obvious. I was away for a few days — not on vacation, not hiding out in Cancun (cut to a picture of Jimmy sitting in a thatch roof cabana sipping on a tropical drink in a lounger next to Ted Cruz) — but because of something I said that got me into trouble. And first and foremost, I owe you an apology.
“When you do a show like this every night, you’re going to say things that miss the mark. What I said the other night missed the mark. Badly. It upset people, it hurt people, and it created a distraction that didn’t need to happen. For that, I’m sorry.
“I’ve always believed that part of this job is to make people laugh, sometimes to make people think, but never to make people feel unwelcome or disrespected. And in this case, I didn’t live up to that. I let people down, and I let myself down.
“Now, I’m not going to spend the next six months groveling. Instead, I’ve decided to join a monastery (cut to a picture of Jimmy in the full-on, catholic nun regalia). My mother will be thrilled. But I will tell you that I’ve listened, I’ve learned, and I’m going to try to do better.
“At the end of the day, this show is supposed to be fun. And if it’s not fun, then what are we doing here? So thank you for giving me the chance to make it right, and thank you for sticking with me. Now, let’s get back to laughing at people more famous and more ridiculous than I am.”
Are Nexstar and Sinclair Prepared to Play Chicken with Disney?
This is my favorite question about the entire situation.
Because, on one hand, both Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group need ABC.
And on the other hand, ABC needs Nexstar and Sinclair. Those two companies own the affiliates for more than 20% of the network’s over-the-air coverage in the United States. And ABC can’t — conceivably — pitch advertisers on the show if their messages aren’t going to be seen in markets like Columbus, Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Seattle, and Washington D.C., among others, right?
Could this be a test case for a network to simply bypass affiliates and push — hard — that you can watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Disney+, Hulu, or on some other digital platform? Absolutely. Do Sinclair and Nexstar want to play that game? I would guess the answer would be absolutely not.
Currently, Sinclair says it still plans to preempt Kimmel’s show, stating that it would be “replacing it with news programming.” I have to assume that the news programming is more expensive for the stations to produce than simply airing the ABC late-night show. Theoretically, the company would want to limit its costs, especially in a timeslot where — by the admission of many on the conservative side of the aisle — the ratings are already in toilet. I have to doubt a re-run or extension of the 11 PM news is likely to pull any larger audiences. But I’ve been wrong before.
Also worth pointing out: we’re jumping to conclusions about what Nexstar will do, because as of this publication, it hasn’t made any definitive statements about its plans.
Could ABC force the two ownership groups’ hands? Would holding the network’s college football and NFL slates away from those stations as a ransom be enough to get — at least Sinclair — to blink in this proverbial staring match?
In the coming seven days alone, ABC is scheduled to broadcast the Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos (Sinclair owns ABC stations in Dayton, and Columbus), as well as a college football slate including brands like Notre Dame, Arkansas (Sinclair owns the ABC affiliate in Little Rock), LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama (Sinclair owns the ABC stations in Birmingham, Chattanooga, and Mobile/Pensacola), and Georgia (Sinclair owns the ABC affiliate in Macon).
Meanwhile, Sinclair has to stand on business, as the kids say. They demanded that Jimmy Kimmel make a formal apology, as well as a “meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.” They can’t just take “No, I don’t think I will” for an answer, can they?
Genuinely, I’m fascinated to see how this all plays out. I do think much of the next steps are dependent on what Kimmel says and does on Tuesday’s show.
Will FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Soften or Stiffen?
I feel like we know the answer to this question.
Brendan Carr, in my opinion, doesn’t seem to have “You know what? My bad.” energy as much as he has “Do you know who my father is?” energy. So, the chances that he tries to mitigate the situation by taking the high road, admitting he might have went a step too far, and apologizing feels unlikely.
I would guess we’re likely to see more definitive statements about what is and isn’t permissible from Brendan Carr’s — and in turn, the FCC’s — viewpoint. During an interview at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit, Carr deflected any responsibility for his involvement in the hullabaloo, saying, “I saw there was a letter from some Senate Democrats that said the FCC threatened to revoke the license of Disney and ABC if they didn’t fire Jimmy Kimmel. That did not happen in any way, shape, or form.”
I think saying that is one of those “Gosh, I hope nobody actually does any research on what I just said, because if they do, I’m screwed,” situations.
Because I’m not sure what “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead” meant in Brendan Carr’s head, but I have two eyes and an understanding of the English langauge, and it certainly sounds to me like he was making threats to revoke licenses. Now, I know he’ll say “Disney and ABC don’t even have licenses for me to revoke!”…but I know what he meant, you know what he meant, and he knows what he meant.
I think Brendan Carr feels — and rightfully so — emboldened by the development that he could call for the suspension of a high-profile TV figure and see it come to fruition in less than 12 hours time. I’d imagine that power is intoxicating. So, I’d expect more and more of this in the future, not less. I’d love to be wrong about that, too, for the record.
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 Toast to 10 series, presented by Premiere Networks, is a month-long look back at 10 years of Barrett Media. Throughout the month, you’ll hear from those who have shaped the company, managed and created content, read the site, and partnered with the brand between 2015 and 2025, sharing how they’ve seen it play a role in covering the media industry and educating, celebrating, and challenging the business.
Sports radio has been the foundation of what Barrett Media was built on. I got to know Jason Barrett through his story when he first launched the business in 2015. There were Twitter chats happening between Jason and other programmers and talent from around the country that I latched onto. If I recall correctly, the hashtag was #PDChat.
I considered it the forbidden door opening for the first time. A way to use social media to connect with my peers outside the walls of the building I worked in. What began as a networking method to connect with peers was built into a business by Jason Barrett. Who took a chance on his career path for the betterment of the industry.
Barrett notes his passion for teaching, coaching, writing, analyzing data, discovering and recruiting talent, and brand building as the reasons why he considered building his own brand. That has since morphed into a representative of the industry that educates, celebrates, and challenges the industry it serves. It has grown to cover news and music, along with television and business. However, sports radio is the core of what makes Barrett Media one of the highest-regarded media brands in the country.
When I reached out to key members and friends in the sports radio industry, I knew responses would come fast and furious. Many of those represented in this piece have either been inspired, assisted, or have found love and respect for the Barrett Media brand over their time working in the industry. This piece was the one I truly looked forward to writing the most. Because much of the feedback provided mirrored my own experiences.
Spike Eskin – SportsRadio 94WIP
Spike Eskin (Canva Creation: Barrett Media)
Spike Eskin is an afternoon drive host on SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia. A former programmer, Eskin has learned to balance the roles behind the mic and in the office. He has been named in both the Barrett Media Top 20 for programmers and for major-market afternoon drive programs. He says he discovered Barrett Media near the beginning of the business because of the unique perspective it provided someone working in the industry.
“It was helpful to see ideas from other markets,” said Eskin. “There wasn’t anything specifically covering sports.”
Eskin has been a key speaker at the Barrett Sports Media Summit events over the years. Participating on panels and as a solo guest. He says attending the earlier versions of the Summit provided him a higher profile in the industry. As the networking it provided was invaluable—an important aspect of what Barrett Media has always strived to provide within sports radio.
“Barrett has worked its way into being a funnel for more mainstream outlets,” noted Eskin. “When visibility for our brands is so important, I believe it helps most here.”
As a consumer of Barrett Media since the beginning, Eskin noted the changes he has seen with the brand over time. With the expansion into television, news, and music. He sees how the brand’s tentacles have created more sections of the industry to participate in.
“[Barrett Media] seems less like a publication specifically for the industry,” explained Eskin. “The appeal seems broader to me.”
The Philadelphia-based radio and podcast host is excited to see how the Barrett Media brand continues to expand. He hopes for a better ranking in February for the program he hosts on 94WIP.
“I want to make sure the WIP Afternoon Show is more accurately ranked in the top 20,” Eskin proclaimed. “#5 was fine, I guess, but let’s be honest—we deserve to be higher.”
Steve Mason – ESPN LA
Steve Mason (Canva Creation: Instagram Screengrab)
Steve Mason is a co-host on Mason & Ireland on ESPN LA. Mason just celebrated his 20th anniversary on the Los Angeles sports radio brand while signing a new multi-year extension with ESPN. When I reached out to Steve, whom I profiled last month, I was curious how long he has been following Barrett Media.
“I found Barrett Media within a couple of months of the launch,” stated Mason. “I love radio, and I love that Barrett Media loves it as much as I do.”
Mason credits Jason Barrett for becoming what newspapers could no longer do. Covering radio used to be a very successful practice for many local newspapers, providing coverage for local audiences that desired it. However, over time, those publications began to disappear, creating an opening that Jason Barrett saw needed a fit.
“Back in the day, newspapers had writers that really covered radio. As newspapers have faded, so has the coverage of sports radio,” explained Mason. “Barrett Sports has become the Bible for sports radio. It is one of the few outlets that covers and celebrates what we all do.”
The Los Angeles-based talk show host noted that every time he or his program is mentioned by Barrett Media in an article. He receives feedback from people all over the country. He credits the continued growth of the Barrett Media brand to the quality of writers it continues to provide. His hope for the future of the brand is to continue following the same path as the industry itself.
“The business is evolving as terrestrial radio goes digital,” said Mason. “I am hoping that Barrett Media evolves with it.”
Marc Silverman – ESPN Chicago
Marc Silverman (Canva Creation: Barrett Media)
Marc Silverman co-hosts afternoon drive on Chicago’s ESPN 1000 alongside Waddle & Silvy. An annual Barrett Media Top 20 ranking program for major-market afternoon drive programs. Silverman noted he became aware of Barrett Media from former ESPN 1000 programmer Justin Craig, who now oversees ESPN Radio in Bristol, Connecticut.
“I crave knowledge about our industry,” said Silverman. “Justin Craig turned me onto it, and I’ve subscribed to the email for the last five to six years. It’s one of the first things I read every morning.”
Silverman remains a student of the game. He noted his passion for continuing to educate himself about the business and what others in the industry are doing to enhance their programs and stations. Silverman is a big proponent of learning from one another to help everyone grow and feels Barrett Media has always strived to provide the stories to assist with that.
“I think it’s super important that we recognize the ones doing things successfully and the right way,” noted Silverman. “We are competitors, but also more alike than different. At the end of the day, not many get to do what we do. I appreciate being part of the broadcast community.”
Silverman attended his first Barrett Sports Media Summit this past May in his hometown of Chicago. He had always desired to attend and was thankful to do so, not only as an attendee but also as a speaker on a panel in the market where he serves his listeners.
“I enjoyed connecting with many I’ve never met but have admired,” explained Silverman. “My appreciation for others in the biz has grown thanks to learning about them and their shows. I loved connecting with many of them at the BSM conference.”
If there was one desire from Silverman relating to the content Barrett Media provides the industry, he believes the focus should be “less is more.”
“Evolving away from ratings convos. It’s been flawed for years and isn’t an indicator of who’s good or successful,” noted Silverman. “As I have evolved as a host, I hope BSM evolves and realizes this.”
Michael Kay – ESPN New York | New York Yankees
Michael Kay (Canva Creation: ESPN Press)
Michael Kay is not only the radio voice on ESPN New York weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, he also has served as the play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees for over three decades. Kay was an immediate consumer of the Barrett Media brand when it launched in 2015 and continues to stay updated daily through the site and its two newsletters.
What led Kay to become a follower of the brand is the reputation he has for Jason Barrett.
“Jason Barrett has been there and done all of this, so he knows the business from the inside out,” said Kay. “I figured something that had his name on it could be trusted and insightful. Jason is not just someone looking to sensationalize a topic, but he covers the real aspect of it all.”
Kay attended a Barrett Sports Media Summit held in New York. He was a guest speaker on a panel alongside his former co-hosts at ESPN New York, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg. I remembered sitting in the audience during that panel; taking notes on how one of the more successful talk programs in a top market dismissed the system they were judged on. It sparked not only a new line of thinking for how to determine success. But also allowed me a window to see a new side of a show I attempted to bring aspects of back to my local market.
You could tell the respect Kay had for Barrett during that panel. He reinforced that when discussing the importance of Barrett Media today.
“I think it’s [Barrett Media] important. Jason was on the other side and knows what’s important and what works,” said Kay. “I trust what is written under his name.”
Kay’s hopes for Barrett Media mirror those of many of his colleagues in the industry.
“To keep growing, expanding, and becoming the major voice where the industry comes to learn and to get its message out,” noted Kay.
Maggie Gray – Infinity Sports Network/SiriusXM
Maggie Gray (Canva Creation: Barrett Media)
Maggie Gray is a nationally syndicated co-host on Maggie & Perloff on the Infinity Sports Network and SiriusXM. She noted she began following the Barrett Media brand in 2018. Immediately subscribing to the daily newsletters once discovering the outlet. Gray noted that Barrett Media is tabbed on her browser. Sandwiched between email and fantasy football, showing the level of importance the site has for her.
“It wasn’t just the headlines—it was the sharp analysis wrapped in real industry experience,” noted Gray. “Barrett Media doesn’t just talk about media; it talks to media pros like they live in the same trenches.”
Gray has been a frequent attendee at the Barrett Sports Media Summits over time. In a capacity as attendee, speaker, panelist, and moderator of panels. She says the Summit provides a perfect place to catch up with old colleagues and friends. While helping put faces to Twitter profiles in her timeline.
She also noted her early impressions of the brand were mostly about ratings and gossip. However, over time she saw the brand become more of a “pulse-check for the whole industry,” evolving from being an observer to a participant in shaping the narrative.
“It plays a crucial role. Barrett Media covers sports radio like it’s more than noise between games,” explained Gray. “Without it, the industry would have a lot fewer conversations and a lot more echo chambers.”
Carl Dukes – 92.9 The Game
Carl Dukes (Canva Creation: Instagram Screengrab)
Carl Dukes co-hosts Dukes & Bell on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta. The afternoon drive host says he’s been a supporter of the Barrett Media brand since its beginnings in 2015. Dukes believes Barrett Media has successfully filled a void regarding coverage of sports media with the vision of providing information valuable to the entire industry as a whole.
“The inside information and the stories that need to be told. The acknowledgment of the talent in our industry being properly recognized,” explained Dukes. “What Barrett Media does is very important in covering the sports radio industry. Knowledge is power, and the knowledge provided across the board, I think, is important to the growth of our industry and the future of what this will potentially look like as we move forward.”
Dukes says he specifically enjoys reading pieces from Barrett Media focused on other talent from around the country and their journey to where they are today.
“There are so many interesting stories and so many different ways to approach it,” said Dukes.
He noted the community he feels when pieces are published by Barrett Media surrounding his show and station has been rewarding. To be the one recognized leads people to connect and network, asking for advice or feedback on how to be better.
“I have had the chance to meet, help, and also gain new friends,” explained Dukes. “People have called me after features done by Barrett Media on my shows or career, seeking advice. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping others and seeing them grow in the industry. Just like Sean McVay, I take pride in my tree and the folks I have helped along the way. Some of those relationships are in direct relation to Barrett Media.”
Evan Cohen – ESPN Radio
Evan Cohen (Canva Creation: ESPN Press)
Evan Cohen is the co-host of Unsportsmanlike on ESPN Radio. Being a voice on several hundred affiliates nationwide every morning can be a difficult task to continually focus on the trends and emerging talent in the industry. Cohen noted the reason he chooses Barrett Media as a source of daily information is the stories it tells of those who share the same passions as he does.
“I enjoy positive features on people that deserve the praise they were getting,” said Cohen. “It is clear that Barrett Media is interested in highlighting the good that comes with sports content and those people within it. The importance is just that—telling stories of the good people and brands associated with the sports content industry.”
Cohen noted a particular story that met that threshold while he was working in digital for Good Karma Brands.
“When The Land On Demand in Cleveland started, the Barrett Media analysis of our project was exciting to see,” noted Cohen. “The viewpoints presented that led to others contributing ideas allowed us to have conversations about the project. That is still going at a high level today.”
The future of the industry is the focus for Cohen. How to adapt to changing technologies and how sports fans can adapt to new ways of distributing content. Cohen noted he hopes that Barrett Media can properly highlight the good for those sports content fans, teammates, and partners moving into the next decade.
Phil Mackey – SKOR North
Phil Mackey (Canva Creation: Barrett Media)
If you know the name Phil Mackey, you’ve sat in on one of the panels he’s a part of annually at the Barrett Sports Media Summits—or you could just be a die-hard Vikings fan. Mackey is the director of digital content development for Hubbard Radio, which transformed SKOR North into a model for how traditional radio stations can morph into digital titans.
Mackey noted he discovered Barrett Media as a young radio host and has been hooked ever since.
“For me, Barrett Media is my go-to place to catch up on sports media industry news—to find out what’s happening around the country, at other companies, and even with various friends and acquaintances in the business,” said Mackey. “An incredible daily industry resource and news source.”
He says he feels more connected to the industry over the past five years because of the depth of insight and connection Barrett Media provides. Mackey has spoken at the Barrett Sports Summits many times, providing his deep knowledge rooted in experience for how SKOR North became what it is through trust, thought, and hard work to appeal to a new generation of sports content consumers.
“Jason and Barrett Media were instrumental in the early building process of SKOR North,” noted Mackey. “Jason and I worked extremely closely for 18 months—circa 2019–20—to craft strategies for distribution, branding, revenue, and talent. It was my first chance at leading a media brand, and Barrett Media was an incredible resource that helped expedite my learning process. The best comparison I can think of, sports-related—I was a young quarterback, and Barrett Media was the QB Whisperer coach/resource that helped me see the field more clearly.”
Joe DeCamara – SportsRadio 94WIP
Joe DeCamara (Canva Creation: Audacy Press)
Joe DeCamara is part of the morning team at 94WIP in Philadelphia—a passionate sports radio market driven through the fire for greatness by their following. DeCamara, like many of his contemporaries, has been a follower of the Barrett Media brand since its beginnings.
“Being on the email distribution list to get stories sent directly to my inbox makes things incredibly convenient,” said DeCamara. “I love it! I read the headlines every single day. And I dig into the articles that interest me most.”
He says what he appreciates most about what Barrett Media continues to provide is simplicity. Including the information and adding perspective to enhance the understanding of the news of the day is a vital piece of why DeCamara remains a daily reader of the brand.
“It’s highly important coverage. Barrett Media does a great job selecting the most important stories to feature,” said DeCamara. “Many of these are highly important in this information age. There probably has never been such scrutiny on the media across our nation. In my opinion, Barrett Media does a great job covering this aspect of American culture.”
While DeCamara has never attended a Barrett Sports Media Summit, it remains a goal of his to attend in the future. He noted he’s been impressed with seeing how the brand has grown over time, giving attention directly to the quality of the product provided daily to the Barrett Media consumer. As we celebrate a decade serving the industry, DeCamara sees a bright future ahead for Barrett Media.
“To do what you are continuing to do, and to grow in any and all ways that the future requires,” explained DeCamara. “Grow in order to stay at or near the top.”
Nick Wilson – 92.3 The Fan
Nick Wilson (Canva Creation: X Screengrab)
Nick Wilson hosts afternoon drive on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland alongside Jonathan Peterlin. Ten years ago, when Wilson was hosting nights in Cleveland, he felt disconnected from the industry. In a search for more information on the sports talk landscape, Wilson found Barrett Media and hasn’t left since.
“There are certainly more quality outlets covering sports radio/sports talk these days, especially with many stations posting audio/video. The perspective that Barrett Media uses is less anthropological and from more of a boots-on-the-ground level,” said Wilson. “That perspective is so much more valuable to me and how I navigate this complicated world than the Jane Goodall version. It’s less dismissive of the business and presents a more personal understanding for the reader.”
Wilson explained he’s been excited about the changes over time he’s seen with Barrett Media. How the brand has expanded to cover television, news, and music—an all-encompassing outlet that he notes will only continue to serve as a scale on the future of what the industry evolves into.
“The usefulness has never changed, but what I consume and what I gravitate to has changed with it. Working with Jason in Charlotte also gave me a deepened respect for not just him but the publication too,” noted Wilson. “On more than one occasion, I’ve read something that stirred up a thought or emotion, and I’ve had the ability to reach out and engage with the author. I love different perspectives on the business, and every one of those interactions impacted how I think about this business.”
Dan Dibley – 95.7 The Game
Dan Dibley (Canva Creation: Audacy Press)
Finally, Dan Dibley—a schooled veteran of the industry with thirty years of service—said that Barrett Media was a source of information that was long overdue for the industry it served. Dibley appreciates the expanded coverage of the Barrett Media brand into all media, including news and music, while continuing to be compelling and interesting in the content it provides.
“Barrett Media is very important because it has become an information warehouse for our business,” said Dibley. “It’s like the Amazon of media; you can get everything there.”
Dibley recalled several stories that helped Barrett Media stand out from the rest. The Pat McAfee saga with ESPN, along with the journey of Craig Carton from WFAN to jail and back to WFAN, stood out in depth of coverage and insight. The annual Top 20 lists are another destination piece of content that the savvy veteran broadcaster enjoys.
While he has not attended a Barrett Sports Media Summit as of yet, he hopes to in the future.
“I’m awaiting my invite to be on a panel. Perhaps one that talks about using humor in sports talk radio,” mentioned Dibley. “As we arrive at 10 years of the site, it’s become an industry leader and a must-read for people in the business. Very entertaining for those outside the business. Knowing Jason Barrett, I’m not surprised he has turned this site into a monster.”
Barrett Media continues to be the leading industry brand covering sports radio and the personalities that encompass the format. While challenges exist in every industry, Barrett Media has, does, and plans to remain the industry standard in educating, celebrating, and challenging an industry passionate about the medium.
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.
There are few names that are as recognizable to fans of combat sports as Ariel Helwani. The 43-year-old journalist and host of The Ariel Helwani Show has defined coverage of the genre for over a decade, presenting a fan-first approach to breaking and discussing news while crafting his own lane as one of the sport’s most respected interviewers in sports media.
“I was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of kids at Syracuse University who had the exact same dream as me,” said Helwani about beginning his path to sports journalism. “I’ve always been someone who likes being the underdog, and I like to go down my own path. So, in addition to being a traditional sports fan, I was also a big combat sports fan.”
At the time, the UFC was just eight years old when Helwani entered the doors of the university. When considering internships, Helwani was blessed to find an opportunity with HBO Sports. A brand which he considered “the gold standard” for sports documentaries and boxing broadcasting. Following his graduation in 2004, Helwani bounced around television production jobs with HBO Sports and Spike TV, which was the home of UFC broadcasts at the time.
After a week working in TV production for Spike TV, Helwani confronted his superior Brian Diamond about the work he called “boring” and requested to leave the position. After Diamond told Helwani that he was upset about him leaving and that he would regret leaving. Helwani went to work following his passion for combat sports.
“He told me I would regret it, and that I was very unprofessional. All this stuff that didn’t make me feel good about myself. They kept me around a month till they found someone to replace me at Spike TV,” explained Helwani. “That’s what I considered the crossroads of my life. I started my own website from my cubicle at Spike TV, and said I’d give myself six months to get noticed. I wanted someone to notice that I can interview fighters and cover the sport.”
The Art of the Interview
Luckily for Helwani, his hard work paid off. Posting content and interviews with fighters surrounding combat sports drew the attention of a media group, which purchased Helwani’s website in less time than his six-month window.
“Interviewing is the thing I love to do the most,” noted Helwani. “I love interviewing combat sport fighters. All I wanted to do was show people different stuff about them.”
Helwani admitted he wasn’t gaining access to the biggest names in the sport at the time. What he was gaining was a library. After joining AOL Fanhouse and Versus in 2009, Helwani continued to expand on his interview skills, gaining better access to bigger fighters through the platform he represented.
A student of Howard Stern and Bob Costas, Helwani is a large proponent of the art of the interview. In his current role with Uncrowned, Helwani is a master of the science. Gaining insight and responses from fighters and personalities around combat sports that others simply can’t get.
“I feel very strongly about the art of interviewing. I think there’s a lot of people that are put in positions that are big spots that don’t do it correctly,” remarked Helwani.
He believes an interview is only as good as the preparedness of the interviewer, having a deep knowledge and understanding of the topics to be asked of the subject being interviewed. In addition, he says it “drives him nuts” when he sees interviewers with sheets of questions sitting in front of them. Helwani also notes the art of listening as a lost art in many interviews.
“A lot of these guys don’t listen. What I mean by listen is they’re dropping bombs that you aren’t expecting. Because you’re so set on your questions that you want to talk about, you’re missing follow ups,” explained Helwani. “I hate when interviewers make it about themselves. I hate when they give their anecdote and talk about their upbringing. It’s not about you; it’s never about you. It’s about them.”
Helwani says he finds inspiration in his contemporaries Dan Patrick, Larry King, and Dan Le Batard. He hopes to one day be considered in the same light as those he’s followed for his entire life.
“My goal is to be the best interviewer of all time. Not just sports interviewer. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but not just combat sports interviewer. I want to try to be the best interviewer of all time because I feel so strongly about it,” noted Helwani.
Becoming Uncrowned With Yahoo Sports
The term “Uncrowned” is the title of Helwani’s media group. Moreover, a label used for those who are considered great but never considered in the conversation of the greatest of all time. Helwani chose the term as inspiration for his independent brand and team of MMA reporters, creators, and journalists who he considered uncrowned champions of sports media.
“Howard [Stern] is the king of all media, and I felt like for better or worse. It’s not like I’m mad about it. But I feel like I’ve had a chip on my shoulder,” said Helwani about how he arrived at the creation of his Uncrowned media brand. “I’ve always felt like the uncrowned king of media. I feel I don’t get that respect and that attention. That trickles down to my colleagues. I would put them up with any sportswriters on the planet. I think they’re the best, and they don’t get that recognition.”
Life update!
I’m extremely excited to announce that I am partnering with @yahoosports to launch a brand new combat sports vertical. MMA, boxing, pro wrestling. The works. The spot? https://t.co/2LvPT4yeHP. 👑
Helwani launched Uncrowned last year in a multi-year partnership with Yahoo Sports. The agreement saw The Ariel Helwani Show to be distributed across multiple platforms. As a result, this included a dedicated hub on the Yahoo Sports website and app. The partnership between Helwani and Yahoo Sports was brought about from Helwani’s relationship with Ryan Spoon, Yahoo Sports’ president who worked at ESPN when Helwani was with the network.
After serving witness to seeing what Bill Simmons, Dan Le Batard, and others who went independent with their own content and licensing it out, Helwani said he felt it was time to do that himself.
“We started Uncrowned, and we had several suitors. Ultimately what led me to Yahoo was they were also interested in the dot com component,” said Helwani. “They really believed in what I believe, which was there could be some great journalism to be had here. There wasn’t a home for it…What I love about it was we created like 25 jobs.”
Helwani holds a lot of pride in the quality of content that Uncrowned has presented through their partnership with Yahoo Sports, consistently making the webpage the top page for the main Yahoo Sports domain. He also noted that Yahoo Sports has never directed Helwani or anyone with Uncrowned on content, which is something he referenced didn’t happen in his previous stops.
“They [Yahoo Sports] told me this is the deal, and you go and we leave you alone. I’ve heard that before, and it didn’t come to fruition,” noted Helwani. “A year in, they [Yahoo Sports] never said a word to me about anything…. They have literally let us do our thing. The one thing they have done is support us with whatever we need.”
Moving On From ESPN
Following a very public leave in 2021 from ESPN, Helwani recalled his time covering the UFC with the network. At the time of Helwani’s arrival with ESPN, the UFC announced their own broadcasting rights partnership with the network. What seemed like perfect timing for Helwani to showcase his skill set with the new partner for the network was nothing of the sort.
Helwani said the UFC made it difficult for him to cover the sport with plenty of roadblocks thrown his way. Then he noted that ESPN attempted to shield him from those roadblocks, Helwani said that after three years with the network the work became “soulless.”
“I went there with my history with the UFC somewhat already intact. They [UFC] made it difficult on me,” noted Helwani. “To ESPN’s credit, they tried to shield me from a lot of it. I have no animosity toward ESPN whatsoever. They did their absolute best to shield me and tried to not let this get to me. Even after the three years, they offered me a new contract. It just had become so exhausting and soulless by the end that I felt it was time for me to leave. I don’t regret it.”
He said his childhood ambition was to work his way up to ESPN and be among the greats who make careers at the network. Albeit, Helwani called his leave from the network heartbreaking but also looked at it as an opportunity that elevated him to a new level in the industry.
At just 43 years old, Helwani feels he’s not anywhere close to what he considers making it in the industry. He considers his bucket list of a career just a hot cup of coffee compared to where he eventually wants to end up in the industry.
“If I was told that my career was over today, I would be very upset. I don’t feel like I’ve made it, not anywhere near making it,” explained Helwani. “I don’t feel like I’m stuck in the mud. I’m extremely grateful and appreciative. I’m also extremely motivated. I don’t think you should always use proving people wrong and chips on your shoulder as motivation. It’s definitely fueling the engine.”
A fire that began to burn so many years ago from an article in Sports Illustrated has now grown into a consistent inferno that continues to drive Helwani toward his life’s goal. Born with a fighter’s spirit and a desire to prove to people he is who he believes he is: the uncrowned king of combat sports journalism.
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.
Love him or hate him, Pat McAfee has built himself an empire. The former NFL punter took a chance on his post-career by entering the world of sports media, leaving the game with two years remaining on his NFL contract to work for Barstool Sports out of his home in Indianapolis. He created more opportunities by leveraging his growing popularity from each destination he called home—from Barstool Sports to SiriusXM, DAZN, Westwood One, FanDuel, FOX Sports, and now ESPN.
McAfee is sports media’s ultimate rags-to-riches story—proof that talent wins, always.
It has been less than a decade since McAfee entered the industry, yet his star continues to rise. Could he already be thinking bigger, better, and planning his next move? If history tells a tale, and zebras never change their stripes, we might one day see McAfee tell ESPN “buh-bye,” as he has done with other networks.
The spark for this discussion comes from comments by ESPN president of content Burke Magnus. Magnus was asked by The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch about his perspective on McAfee’s 2023 agreement with the network.
A Game Changing Deal
To recap, ESPN signed McAfee to a reported five-year agreement worth $85 million. The agreement was a reported pay cut for McAfee, who previously had a deal with FanDuel worth a reported $120 million.
As part of the arrangement, McAfee’s show would air on ESPN while remaining free on YouTube—a move that, at the time, seemed confusing as to why a network would allow it.
Additionally, under the partnership, ESPN would not have creative control over the content of his program. This means McAfee could have guests from other “competitor” networks if he chose to.
ESPN would receive roughly 230 episodes every year and the ability to sell advertising against them.
The wins were clear. McAfee gains more eyeballs on ESPN than he did on FanDuel, despite earning less money. He keeps his homegrown audience through the YouTube stream. ESPN gets a two-hour block of programming that attracts younger demographics and can sell advertising against it. Plus, content from The Pat McAfee Show can be shared across ESPN’s social platforms, and vice versa.
Two years into the deal, Magnus told The Sports Media Podcast he could not imagine ESPN without McAfee.
“There is validation for athletes and executives to be on his show. Every commissioner wants to be on his show. Every athlete wants to be on the show,” said Magnus. “There’s a cool factor, a relevance factor. It’s fun, funny, and entertaining. As we sit here today, I could not imagine our daytime schedule without his show.”
We could interpret this quote in a few ways. Here’s my take:
Ammo for the Future
What Magnus said is no different from statements coming from ESPN’s upper management regarding support for McAfee. Despite a litany of questionable moments and public commentary about some “suits” at ESPN from McAfee himself, the network has remained consistent in their support of both the program and the partnership.
While the network has not been particularly transparent with viewership figures for The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, who says they need to be? Magnus noted in May at the BSM Summit in Chicago that some industry leaders are overly focused on linear ratings as the sole metric of success. He emphasized that digital growth is also a key measure of success in a licensing deal.
If you’ve kept up with ESPN digital and social platforms, along with what McAfee’s team produces every weekday, there’s no doubt ESPN is thrilled with the engagement the brand generates.
Now, regarding Magnus’ comments: he provided potential leverage for McAfee.
This is a new era for content—streaming platforms now compete directly with networks for talent, and the ability to self-regulate and grow digitally makes stars like McAfee more powerful than ever.
By saying he cannot imagine ESPN without the show, Magnus signals the network values McAfee’s presence, which could strengthen McAfee’s position in renegotiation talks. Unlike 2023, there are now more players at the bargaining table. If ESPN is smart, they may seek to extend the agreement before it expires in 2028.
Who knows what the media landscape will look like in three years, let alone three months?
The media landscape is unpredictable. Netflix and Amazon have publicly expressed interest in podcasting, and both have massive global audiences. Paramount or other streaming platforms could emerge as suitors. The possibilities are endless if McAfee is willing to look beyond his current platform.
Chances are, he will—he has before.
ESPN Has the Upper Hand, But…
Does being on ESPN allow McAfee the opportunity to become the new face of College GameDay? Of course it does. Lee Corso even said this past weekend that he’s passed the torch to the former Colts punter.
Does being on ESPN allow McAfee to continue his work with WWE? Did you watch Wrestlepalooza this weekend? McAfee kicked off the show and was credited as a major factor in bringing the two parties together.
In conversations with digital content creators over the past months, McAfee serves as a blueprint for creators on how to succeed without compromising. He marches to his own beat and drives his own agenda, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit every network covets.
The most dangerous thing any executive could say about Pat McAfee is that he’s irreplaceable. Executives rarely call talent irreplaceable because it gives the talent enormous leverage. That term adds more value than any metric presented on a PowerPoint. No executive ever says that about any talent.
Did Scott Greenstein say Howard Stern was irreplaceable during their latest contract discussions? No. Instead, he noted that the company would love for him to stay, not that he couldn’t be replaced.
If these comments reflect an aggressive strategy by ESPN to extend McAfee’s contract, I applaud the move and its assertiveness. The McAfee model exemplifies the changing media landscape: digital-first, personality-driven, multi-platform content that networks can no longer ignore. Traditional metrics like linear ratings are no longer the sole currency. Engagement, social amplification, and cross-platform growth matter as much—if not more. Why else would ESPN go into the direct-to-consumer model with a massive amount of digital tools to play with.
If not, with every day that passes and the growing competition for top-tier talent, another hop may be in McAfee’s future.
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.
I have seen a few articles over the last few months asking, “Where are the hits?”. It does appear to be true. There have not been many Pop hits this year as in the past. I will argue that radio, and Hot-AC in general has not done a great job finding those potential hits.
I write the Hits On Horizon article for Barrett Media each week. It arrives in your inbox on Friday mornings. Just this past week I put out two potential Hot-AC songs that could become hits. Due to sound and texture both warrant consideration from program directors. Those two hits are Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” which had 10 million streams last week, more than 80 million since its release. Sombr’s “12 to 12”had 8 million streams last week. When I found those two, Olivia had zero radio airplay. Sombr had just two Top 40 stations spinning it.
Hot-AC radio has long been positioned as the “comfort zone” of music formats, bridging the gap between Top 40 hits and the familiarity of mainstream adult favorites. For years, this positioning has kept the format stable, attracting adults who want contemporary music without the more aggressive trends of CHR. But today’s audience expectations have shifted. Listeners don’t just want familiar songs, they crave discovery, albeit at a measured pace. Hot-AC stations must deliver it or risk fading into irrelevance.
Yes, streaming has changed the game. I’m not advocating going from 20mph to 120mph. I am though saying Hot-AC as a format needs to step on the gas a little harder to continue to matter when it comes to music. As a format I believe today’s listener, even the adults that Hot-AC caters too are deeply engaged with music discovery platforms. When they tune to radio, they don’t expect only the hits they’ve already heard 1,000 times. They want a balance of familiarity and freshness. If a station fails to provide that mix, listeners will simply stay with streaming, which scratches the discovery itch better.
Too many Hot-AC stations lean too heavily on recycling proven Top 40 crossovers, sometimes months after they’ve peaked, or even worse waiting on a record label person to tell them what track the label wants to focus on. While that guarantees safety and broad recognition, it undercuts the station’s value proposition. Why would a listener wait to hear a track on Hot-AC when they’ve already burned out on it via streaming, TikTok, or your Top 40 competitor?
Discovery needs to be part of the format’s DNA, curating not only big hits but also identifying and breaking songs that will matter for the target audience in six months. You can achieve this in a variety of ways. Make it a point to have 1-2 records your radio competitor is not currently playing. You could create a specialty feature that exposes these songs and not just in the overnight where not many people are listening. Music discovery can build your brand loyalty and authority. Stations that help listeners discover music develop brand credibility and loyalty.
If a Hot-AC station consistently introduces a handful of exciting, relatable tracks before they blow up, listeners start to rely on that brand for guidance. This doesn’t mean flooding the playlist with unproven songs. It means carefully identifying artists and tracks that fit the lifestyle and taste of the format’s demo and serving them with context. Discovery builds anticipation, and anticipation builds listening occasions.
Hot-AC targets adults who grew up in the 90s and 2000s, generations that discovered music through radio first. But now, many in this demo feel radio has ceded its leadership role to algorithms. They still want a trusted human filter, especially one that gives them both the reassurance of familiar hits and the excitement of fresh tracks.
Now, to be honest there are a handful of Hot-AC stations that do this currently. A few immediately come to mind. They are Mix in Chicago, Alice in San Francisco, Mix in Boston, and Cities in Minneapolis. All are pretty successful in their markets. I’m sure there are others, but not enough as a whole.
This is not just a Hot AC issue. All music radio that plays current music should be taking a more active stance in music discovery for their audiences. Country radio is currently best at delivering this position. Simple fact is in today’s landscape, ignoring discovery risks alienating listeners, particularly younger Hot-AC fans who expect their station to reflect the evolving culture of music.
So, the path forward means Hot-AC programmers must rethink their role as curators. This includes:
Integrating emerging hits earlier instead of waiting for CHR or Alt burnout.
Spotlighting artist discovery features, short vignettes or on-air stories that add personality to new music.
Leveraging social media to tie radio discovery to digital buzz.
Balancing familiarity and freshness so that new music feels additive, not disruptive.
In a landscape where music discovery is a daily expectation, Hot-AC can’t afford to be reactive. To stay relevant, the format must lean into its strength as a trusted, human-driven curator of both the hits we love and the songs we’ll love next!
As a radio group, we gnash our collective teeth over the hurdles we face to recruit emerging talent to our brands. Years march on and the brightest among us offer avenues to attract talent to legacy radio.
It’s not that we are waving a white flag. We keep plenty of lines in the waters. This October in New York City, The National Association of Broadcasters will again have open arms to new talent in several facets of broadcast to include:
How to Attract New Broadcast Engineering Talent: The toughest position to recruit as contemporary minds wired like engineers are coding video games or jockeying microchips and not running XLR cables from a studio board to a microphone.
Broadcast Content Summit: Free for students and recent grads. At the NAB Show in New York for content creators, programmers, aspiring broadcast professionals.
Unlocking Your Next Generation Recruiting Potential: Also part of the Broadcast Content Summit about how to recruit younger / newer talent.
Also proudly carrying the contemporary talent recruiting torch is Mentoring Women in Radio(MWR) which supports, develop, and retain on-air and programming females working in radio through:
One-On-One Mentoring: connecting programming, talent and leaders mentors with other women starting their broadcast journey.
Workshops & Seminars: developing on-air skills, strategic big-picture thinking, digital platform integration and leadership development.
Networking: Access to decision-makers and peers who also mentor while opening doors to next opportunities.
Then there’s Sam Alex’s Camp Broadcast, a hands-on workshop developed by radio star Sam Alex for people interested in broadcasting, hosting, podcasting, YouTube and entertainment reporting. Launched during COVID, initially as a virtual camp for high school students, college students, recent graduates or anyone interested in media.
Here is a sampling of what Sam offers during Camp Broadcast:
Daily Expert Speakers: guest instructors active in broadcast teaching their wheelhouse skill on unique, specific topics.
Hands-On Practice: bootcampers produce tangible work walking away with a professional demo while learning interview skills (A Sam Alex Master Class) with session with real celebrities.
Career Tools: campers gain confidence by doing, not just in an academic environment, while having network exposure to high-value industry pros and high-profile pop culture celebrities.
Sam wrote a how-to book: “Get on the Air: An 8-Step Guide to a Career in Broadcasting.” Helping talent develop a roadmap on how to prepare, how to grab quality internships, build reels, websites and network.
We also wrote a profile on Barrett Media about Sam’s journey from terrestrial radio to world-wide syndication. You can read that piece from last May here.
When we DO identify and successfully recruit fresh talent to our properties, on-boarding and hands-on training are sporadic and inconsistent.
We find in Adult Contemporary radio a consistent lack of discipline to the approach to content building and dynamic presentation. This is a subconscious by-product that programmers and consultants often tell talent AC Radio is a ‘utility’ and ‘background’. Far from it if you only know where to invest your time and have an always-learning Growth Mindset.
If you’re a veteran behind the mic or a newer talent looking for a solid foundation to approach content creation, here’s a handful of tips you might hear at The NAB Show, inside a session with Mentoring Women In Radio or Camp Broadcast.
Prep
You may be (or may NOT be) surprised on how little AC talent preps as what we’ve witnessed is a ‘wing it’ mentality
In the Army it’s often shared The 5 P’s – Proper Planning Prevent Poor Performance – be prepared every day
EVERYTHING is prep – carry a journal, sending yourself notes and bookmark Songfacts.com and Refdesk.com as part of your prep process
Develop a 3-D Brand
The shared human experience is powerful and lets the listener metaphorically ‘see inside your personal underwear drawer’
Every break, the listener should learn something about you, your brand or your market
Localize everything with a small story or reference as small stories are part of that human connection and produce big results
Big Payoff
Have a CLEAR roadmap for every big AND small break
Map it as ‘here’s my start then my middle and exit’, ending when the energy balloon in the break is about to pop
Where are you taking the listener with your content and what’s the memorable payoff
Craft Content
All other performance artists follow a script – even the musical Hamilton and Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show includes scripted lines with room for spontaneity
Write your content using prompts or a Mind Map, which helps you focus
‘Winging It’ will WING (injure) your content
Understand Your Target
In July we offered this piece on Barrett Media about building and understanding your target audience
Craft each piece of content with your specific target in mind, starting with the listener and working backwards
‘Where is The Target’ in their day and how might you relate to their ‘situationality’
Keep It Light
Take what YOU do serious but your content and yourself – not so serious
As an Adult Contemporary brand, listeners glam onto you as an escape musically and informative value
Self-depreciation is an attribute as laughing at your mistakes will relate to your audience
Trust Your Gut
If you understand your brand, your target listener and where you live in ‘their world’ your gut is almost always right when it comes to content
You will have detractors that might come after you via email, phone call or on a social platform on a content piece – thick skin is a must
Social Media arguments are best settled on-line and one-on-one as nobody wins a ‘digital war’
Be A Salesperson
Sell your name – station ID – guests – future content
Sell your set ups – your resets – your teases
S-L-O-W down when selling locations – numbers – social handles – make them easy to ‘print’
No Interviews
Only ‘conversations’ with open-ended questions – legendary interviewer Barbra Walters set the standard for at-ease celebrity chats – watch HERE
DO more LISTENING than TALKING – think 70%-30% percentage of the conversation with the 70% being your subject
Exit the interview with ONE question – however small – that no one has ever asked your interviewee
Understand Ratings
Know the difference between share, rating, cume, exposure – all the terms that effect your performance in a Nielson report card
Know that a speed bump in a weekly – monthly – quarterly is NOT a trend until after several Neilson seasons (no knee-jerk reactions)
Study and follow Barrett Media’s Ratings Genius Dr. Ed Cohen. No human has more understanding of the numbers you produce in your market
Share what you know and what you may have just learned with your building, cluster or group. Add your own tips that assist you in developing daily lean-forward content.
Green Bay Packers legend Vince Lombardi coined the phrase and Indiana Basketball’s controversial coach Bob Knight made the phrase famous:
“The will to prepare to win is more important than the WILL to win”
When it comes to recruitment and development of emerging talent, it’s an all hands on deck (and on-going) effort.
Some stories are tough to laugh at. Like the Charlie Kirk assassination. We deal with death, destruction, and other dire subjects.
Are you having fun? When was the last time you had a belly laugh on the air? Is your show relevant? Is your audience having fun?
Laughter is an emotion like anger. Every successful host must have a unique wrinkle to stand out.
In the Charlie Kirk murder and the Catholic school shooting, the romantic interests of the alleged shooters were furries. If you are not familiar with furry culture, do an online search, and you will find the bizarre subculture.
Why, or why, would people dressing up as stuffed animals be associated with such horror? Apparently, one of the furry groups espouses Satanism. Satanist people dressing up like a Care Bear—2025 is just fantastic. For all you know, I am a furry.
Apparently, these folks like to become their character. There is also the sexual subset of furry culture. There are furry people going to these conventions to mate with the furry character of their fancy.
Donald Trump was serenaded by the royal band playing “YMCA.” Come on, that is funny. Kamala Harris wanted to choose Pete Buttigieg as her running mate, but thought that America couldn’t handle a Black woman married to a Jewish man with a gay running mate. So, Kamala chose Tim Walz. Hilarious. We are now living in a time where bad male athletes are choosing the women’s division in a variety of categories. World Athletics says dozens of female competitors have tested male. That is a crazy story. Staying in the politics lane, Kash Patel’s sparring with Senator Adam Schiff was fun.
A producer and sidekick can often be a tool to use for fun on the show. Sean Hannity has Linda. Linda goes after Sean from time to time, and Hannity has fun with Linda’s New York accent, which is funny because Hannity’s New York accent is pretty thick as well. Hannity is able to poke fun at himself, which makes him human. So many hosts are too serious. You must be able to lighten things up.
Are you able to be self-deprecating? If you can make fun of yourself, it is highly important for your show. Study modern comics and how they set up a joke. Matt Rife, Shane Gillis, Dave Chappelle, and others are able to make fun of themselves as they deliver the punchline.
Ok, let’s say you are not funny. A lot of people are not hilarious. Is there a way to be funnier? There is likely an improv class in your community. I have taken these classes and learned a lot. You can also try your hand at comedy by doing a short set on open stage night at a local comedy club. Being funny can be very difficult. Creating something uncomfortable can be incredibly intimidating.
I had a 22-year-old board operator tell me a hurdle in her life was stress. This was a normal part of transitioning to being a full adult. I told her that life can be stressful. Everything new is something to worry about. I told her that I moved across the country with no more than a handshake agreement. I was driving that U-Haul truck with my car on a trailer alone as I made my way to my first program director job. I remember the trip—scared and hopeful. That is life.
People turn on your station or show to ultimately be entertained. News, traffic, weather, and talk are entertaining for listeners. But there needs to be more. ABC News had a wonderful radio news anchor in morning drive named Doug Limerick. Doug was a total wordsmith. He handled serious news stories perfectly, but if there was a way to add an inflection or unique phrase, Doug made it work. You don’t need to deliver a punchline to get a laugh. Sometimes it is with phrasing and a smartly timed pause.
Silence. Yes, a good use of silence. When I worked for KSTP during the talk years, TD Mischke once hosted a two-hour show without speaking. He didn’t say anything. Tommy just put callers on the air. Now, I am not encouraging you to do what Mischke did that night. I am saying be imaginative.
Try something different. Instead of interviewing a politician, speak with a person impacted by crime or a business owner trying to make payroll. Just think of the woman who owns a restaurant, and it is September 27th, and she doesn’t know how she will make payroll on the 30th. What is that like? How does that feel? What about the concern of losing it all?
There are too many shows that are more concerned about access to a prominent elected official than they are about being the voice their audience can rely on. Be the host who represents the people. Be that voice. I get it—there is a certain high from getting those big invites. But if the invite comes with strings attached, that fancy dinner is not worth attending.
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.
Former NFL quarterback Drew Brees has signed on as a weekly contributor on ESPN’s First Take. Barrett Media has learned that the former New Orleans Saints signal caller will be a featured contributor on Tuesday’s for the remainder of the NFL season.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the agreement is non-exclusive for Brees which allows the former NFL quarterback to be on the call for the NFL’s Christmas day slate of action on Netflix.
Moreover, he’ll be paired with play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle for that presentation. Marking another high-profile appearance outside of traditional network television
Brees is just the latest addition to First Take for this current NFL season. The network signed a multi-year deal with former NFL quarterback Cam Newton in August as a weekly contributor on the program.
The weekly lineup of First Take contributors now includes Brees and Newton. Along with Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Marcus Spears, and Jeff Saturday.
Brees was featured this past weekend on FOX Sports as a guest analyst for the NFL on FOX pregame show. The former Super Bowl MVP quarterback served as a guest analyst in place of Julian Edelman. Who was inducted into the New England Patriot’s Hall of Fame on Sunday.
The appearance marked a return to NFL studio television for the former quarterback. After retiring from the New Orleans Saints, Brees joined NBC Sports in 2021. He contributed to Football Night in America and worked select Notre Dame and NFL games in the booth. His stint was short-lived, however, as he stepped away from NBC before the 2022 season.
During that period, there had been speculation that FOX might pursue Brees for a more permanent role, but the move never materialized. His guest spot on the network this past weekend was termed as a one-week commitment by the network.
Brees has been making several guest appearances on sports talk programs across the country. Most notably last month where he joinedThe Dan Patrick Show, and discussed getting another shot in the broadcast booth.
Brees is slated to begin his weekly slate of appearances tomorrow, with some appearances happening in-studio while others will be remote.
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