As rumors swirl that Warner Bros. Discovery could be on the market for sale, a potential bid has reportedly emerged: Netflix.
Previously, a report shared that Paramount could be a player for the studio and content hub, with an all-cash offer on the table.
However, Puck’s Dylan Byers reports that a “well-placed Hollywood source” has shared that Netflix was also considering a bid for the WBD assets.
The renewed interest in Warner Bros. Discovery comes as the company saw several blockbuster movies — namely Sinners, Weapons, and Superman — hit theaters in 2025. They each performed well at the box office, leading to an infusion of revenue.
Despite that increase, many Wall Street analysts don’t expect the company’s stock price to eclipse $19, so it would remain a quasi-affordable target for mergers and acquisitions.
The reporting surrounding a potential sale of WBD comes as the company had previously announced plans to splinter into separate divisions, with the film studio and streaming service HBO Max breaking away from the cable and linear television outlets held by the conglomerate.
Byers added that another company — NBCUniversal — was also “running the numbers” on what a purchase price for Warner Bros. Discovery could look like. He noted, however, that it was in the “worst position” to acquire the company.
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 Tampa Bay Lightning and Cox Media Group announced that 102.5 The Bone will remain the official flagship station of the Lightning following a multi-year contract extension, ensuring fans will continue to hear live broadcasts of their favorite NHL team.
The station will maintain its current broadcast team, featuring Dave Mishkin on play-by-play and Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito serving as color analyst. Greg Linnelli will return as the host for pre-game, intermission, and post-game coverage, alongside other station personalities.
New this season, 102.5 The Bone will launch a weekly show featuring Lightning personalities, as well as an expanded Last Call Postgame Show. Additionally, daily Lightning updates will be broadcast across all Cox Media Group stations, offering fans comprehensive coverage beyond live games.
The station’s lineup includes iconic morning host Mike Calta, the J.P. Show, the Senning Show, and Drew Garabo LIVE! in the afternoon. These programs set the stage for the Lightning broadcasts, creating a full day of compelling content for listeners.
102.5 The Bone’s signal reaches broadly, broadcasting at 100,000 watts and serving Tampa Bay, Sarasota, and extending into Fort Myers and Lakeland. The station is also available digitally, streaming on the 102.5 The Bone app and other platforms. Its distinctive talk format, featuring live, local discussions throughout the day, complements the station’s sports programming.
Cox Media Group’s Tampa Bay radio portfolio is among the strongest in the market. Since 2020, its stations collectively have been the most listened to, reaching nearly one-third of adults aged 25–54, including both men and women in that demographic.
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.
Reactions to the suspension of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel continue to pour in. CNN analyst Scott Jennings says he’s been in a similar situation before.
While discussing the suspension of Kimmel and the Trump administration’s celebration of the move on NewsNight with Abby Phillip, Jennings was asked if he was aware that he offends people with his commentary by another panelist on the show.
That panelist then questioned whether or not that meant Jennings should be pulled from the program, which is what many critics of Kimmel’s have charged him with.
After noting that CNN isn’t subjected to the same FCC regulations as broadcast networks, Scott Jennings made a startling admission.
“I expect to get fired every day,” he shared. “This is a tough business.”
He continued by adding that he’s been mystified that Jimmy Kimmel has had the staying power he’s had, due to his past antics.
“I’m surprised that a guy who once wore black face and caused large-breasted women to jump on trampolines lasted this long in the media business to begin with,” Jennings said. “He was long past his sell-by date. And the fact that he couldn’t realize that and was going down this road of partisan hackery being unfunny and demonizing is wild to me.”
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.
Sports media personality Bill Simmons weighed in on the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel from The Jimmy Kimmel Show on ABC. Simmons, a frequent guest on the program, called the network’s move “censorship” rather than a matter of cancel culture.
“If the FCC can leverage some affiliates to get rid of it, then that becomes a different story,” Simmons said, referencing ongoing corporate mergers that could have influenced the decision. “You have NextStar merging with Tegna… they need FCC approval. The guy who runs it, appointed by Trump, sees an opportunity to leverage some stuff….If you want to get rid of a show like Jimmy’s, this is the moment to do it.”
Simmons cited a Rolling Stonereport that ABC, Disney, and affiliated executives convened emergency meetings ahead of the suspension. “Multiple execs felt that Kimmel had not actually said anything over the line, which I agree with. But the threat of Trump administration retaliation loomed. And that’s why this isn’t cancel culture. This is censorship, which is a completely different situation,” Simmons said.
Despite the suspension, Simmons sees potential for Kimmel’s return. “There was such a groundswell against Disney this week that I actually think this…maybe this flips,” he said. Simmons emphasized the importance of standing by long-tenured talent.
“At some point, you got to stand for something. At some point, you got to stand by a person who has been one of the best people you’ve had for 20 plus years…Once you start losing your faces, you just don’t have a soul anymore. You’re just another place that’s pumping out content,” said Simmons.
Simmons also questioned whether Kimmel even needs ABC to continue his career. “The bigger question for me, why does Jimmy need ABC anymore?…I’ve been in this situation 11 years ago and 10 years ago. When your life and career blows up in one second and all these people are reaching out, it’s pretty overwhelming. I don’t know why he needs ABC,” Simmons said.
Despite his skepticism, Simmons expressed hope for both Kimmel and the network.
“I hope Jimmy’s show sticks around and I hope ABC sticks by him. And I think if they don’t, I think it would be pretty cowardly. But if they don’t stick by him and this is the end. I think he’s going to be fine,” Simmons said.
The comments come amid heightened scrutiny over network responses to political pressure and ongoing debates over the boundaries between free expression and corporate caution. Simmons’ remarks frame the suspension as a pivotal moment for ABC, testing whether the network will defend a prominent voice in late-night television or yield to external pressures.
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.
A Borrell Associates survey of marketers shows younger marketing agency employees are the ones most likely to increase their advertising budgets with AM/FM radio.
According to the Spring 2025 Survey of Local Ad Buyers, 13% of those under 35 shared plans to increase spending with radio. That topped 11% of those aged 35-44, and 7% of those 45 and older.
Center for Sales Strategy CEO Matt Sunshine shared that there’s a thought process behind why these numbers fell the way they did.
“You’d think younger market people might be more inclined to favor nothing but social media — and while they do favor social media — they may be more interested than their older counterparts in things like broadcast, TV, radio, cable, and direct mail,” he shared.
As noted by Sunshine, 40% of those marketing agency employees under 35 plan to increase their social media budgets, topping the list of avenues by a wide margin. 32% of those 35-44 responded similarly, while only 20% of the 45+ crowd shared intentions to grow their social media budgets.
Sunshine suggested that the extreme knowledge younger marketers have in digital aspects could be why AM/FM radio is getting an increase.
“It could be their world has been almost solely focused on digital media and that they’re now interested in greater marketing diversity,” he stated.
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.
NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison believes Tom Brady’s visibility as both an NFL on FOX broadcaster and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders is a problem the league cannot ignore. Harrison raised the issue after cameras showed Brady inside the Raiders’ coaches booth during Monday Night Football, questioning the fairness of the future Hall of Famer holding two influential positions at once.
“I understand that Tom’s going to take advantage of every opportunity that he gets,” Harrison said on the Football Night in America podcast. “I played 15 years in the league, but I’ve been a broadcaster for 17 years. And it’s definitely a conflict of interest because think about it—when we walk on that field, we get so much information. We get all the behind-the-scenes information. We get, you know, which the average fan has no idea the type of information we’re getting.”
Harrison pointed out that broadcasters regularly hear candid details about player health, toughness, team-building strategies, and free-agent evaluations from executives, scouts, and coaches. He suggested it would be “human nature” for Brady to take those insights back to the Raiders. Especially after seeing Brady in the Raiders coach’s booth on Monday night.
“If somebody told him, well, this guy’s not very tough, when that guy becomes a free agent, he already knows, ‘Hey, I’m going to back away from that,’” Harrison said. “It made me feel a little uncomfortable when I saw it. I think it’s an unfair advantage for the Raiders and Tom Brady. The league has given him a pass.”
The former Patriots safety added that Brady’s status as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in history only magnifies the issue. He noted that Brady, his former teammate in New England, doesn’t need production meetings alone to gather valuable intel. His network of contacts across the league is more than enough.
“You find out a lot of information from tape. But Tom has relationships across the league and he’s going to pick up the phone. He’s going to call people. He’s going to ask questions,” Harrison said. “If he’s being banned from these meetings, he still has a way because who’s going to turn down Tom Brady? I mean, when he walks in the room, he lights up the entire room. People get excited. People just want to be next to this guy. So, you know, I understand he’s taking full advantage of the opportunities. At the same time, it’s not a good look for the NFL and it’s not right.”
Ultimately, Harrison argued that Brady will need to decide which side of the business he wants to stand on.
“I just think it gets to a point eventually they’re going to have to say, ‘Hey man, what are you going to do? Are you going to be part owner or are you going to be a broadcaster?’” Harrison said. “And that’s what it comes down to, to make things all fair across the league.”
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 Philadelphia Eagles center and current ESPN NFL analyst Jason Kelce believes one of the most scrutinized aspects of playing in Philadelphia is also one of the city’s greatest assets. Speaking on 94WIP in Philadelphia about the role of the media, Kelce explained that the tough coverage athletes and coaches receive in Philadelphia has a real impact on how teams operate. Rather than seeing it as a negative, he framed it as a driving force that pushes organizations to make improvements.
“I am very pro Philadelphia media being very honest with their pro sports teams,” Kelce said. “I think that in general it pushes, a lot of the times, the envelope—and I’ve seen that in the building that it has an effect on people to make corrections and make change. I think it’s actually one of Philadelphia’s media landscape strengths.”
For decades, the Philadelphia media has carried a reputation for holding athletes to a higher standard. Fans often echo that intensity, creating an environment where performance is constantly under the microscope. Kelce, who spent 13 seasons with the Eagles and became one of the most beloved players in franchise history. He acknowledged the pressure but emphasized the long-term benefits.
“It’s very frustrating to go through at times as a player and an athlete in this city, or a coach I’m sure,” he says. “But the reality is, I do think the net gain from it—like you can’t fall asleep in this city. You’re going to be getting crucified if you’re not going out there and doing your job. I think that does push people.”
Kelce’s comments highlight a dynamic that extends beyond football. The city’s media presence spans all of its major sports teams, from the Eagles and Phillies to the Sixers and Flyers. Whether it’s postgame press conferences or daily radio debates, Philadelphia’s sports coverage rarely shies away from blunt assessments.
Critics often claim the constant scrutiny can create unnecessary tension inside locker rooms. However, Kelce’s perspective reflects how athletes can channel that pressure into performance. Instead of dismissing the commentary, he pointed out that accountability in the media can force organizations to stay sharp.
Now a highly listened to podcaster and analyst for ESPN, Kelce has a better understanding of the media.
For Philadelphia sports media, Kelce’s words serve as validation. Their relentless coverage may draw criticism from those who prefer a softer approach, yet in Kelce’s view, it ensures that complacency never sets in.
Jason Kelce says the demanding Philadelphia media helps the pro sports teams in the city improve:
"I am very pro Philadelphia media being very honest with their pro sports teams. I think that in general it pushes, a lot of the times the envelope—and I've seen that in the… pic.twitter.com/4D8lSZ6HFa
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.
Radio used to stand for creativity, innovation, and local connection. Today, it feels like the very people trusted to lead it have buried those values. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Morale in the industry is fragile. Every time it starts to recover, decisions come down from above that pull the plug on progress.
The cuts keep coming in waves. Entire staffs disappear overnight. Positions that once built culture and community are eliminated in the name of efficiency. What’s left are burned out employees trying to hold together brands that feel hollowed out.
Hundreds of jobs vanish each year across local, national, digital, and on air. People joke about it because the reality is too heavy to face. And somehow leadership still finds resources for empty gestures and distractions instead of investing in the people who actually make radio matter.
Here’s the question. What does this make you in the eyes of your employees? Many see today’s radio leaders as numbers driven managers, not visionaries. History will remember the executives who called themselves leaders but dismantled their brands for quarterly returns. Always promising it’s going to get better, but rarely delivering on that promise.
It doesn’t have to be this way. You’ve still got the chance to build something lasting. You can replace lifeless strategies like endless national contesting with something local, engaging, and fresh. You can protect creativity instead of burying it and tap into the people on the ground, the ones who live and breathe these brands every single day.
Imagine it from a listener’s point of view. If you had to eat the same cold plain cheese pizza every day for years, wouldn’t you eventually look elsewhere? That’s what you’ve been serving your audiences. And now it even feels like less cheese is being sprinkled on top each time. Why should a customer keep coming back for the same stale offering?
Meanwhile, in every market, burned out PDs and underpaid jocks are doing everything they can to dress up that same plain pizza. They keep going because they care. In many cases, they care more about the health of the brand than the leadership above them. That’s a problem, but it’s also an opportunity. You can fix it by listening, by creating spaces where employees can share ideas, and by actually putting those ideas into action.
There are thousands of years of combined experience in your workforce. Imagine what could happen if you tapped into that knowledge instead of silencing it. Create channels where local markets can feed you ideas every month. Not every suggestion will be a winner, but even one great idea could reignite excitement around your brands.
Emma Lazarus once wrote, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” In radio, those people are your jocks, your PDs, your account executives, your engineers, your promotions staff, your imaging directors, and your production teams. They show up each day hoping for a breath of fresh air, hoping for a reason to believe their work matters.
They’re dragging your brands forward through the mud even as resources are stripped away. They’re tired of being cut down piece by piece. They want leadership that sees them, values them, and includes them in building the future of this industry.
Every leader’s tenure eventually comes to an end. When yours does, how do you want to be remembered? As someone who drained the soul out of radio while chasing short term returns, or as someone who helped rebuild an industry that audiences still love.
I wrote this on behalf of the thousands of creatives and front line radio professionals who’ve been laid off in recent years, and for those still showing up every day wondering if their job will be next. They could have helped save your brands from becoming stale and lifeless. Many of them still could if given the chance.
So here’s the challenge. Offer more than a generic email. Go to your markets. Listen to your people. Acknowledge them, thank them, and let them know they’re valued. They’re the unsung heroes who make your success possible.
Radio is standing at a crossroads. You can choose to be the leaders and decision makers who listened, who valued your people, and who brought creativity back to life. The future of this industry is still yours to shape.
This article is a special guest submission courtesy of @ShittyRadioJock on Instagram. To share your insights with the media industry through Barrett Media, email your ideas to Jason@BarrettMedia.com. We can’t promise it will be published but we review all content sent our way.
Why is everyone hung up on the viewership figures of FS1’s new morning show Wake Up Barstool? For the past week and a half, debate has swirled over whether the Barstool Sports brand can translate to traditional television. But did anyone really expect anything different?
Let me ask: do you remember when Michael Jordan tried playing baseball? How’d that go? I believe the greatest player in the history of the NBA had a lifetime batting average about what I weighed in middle school—just above .200. Make your jokes; that’s fine.
We’ve seen proven talent excel in one field and fail in another. CM Punk went from WWE World Heavyweight Champion to getting demolished in the UFC. So why get bent out of shape about a show still finding its footing on TV? Jealousy works wonders in sports media.
When FOX Sports partnered with Barstool, I applauded the move. The goal was simple: FOX Sports taps into a younger digital audience, while Barstool gets a platform on national television. Barstool didn’t need FOX, but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Founder Dave Portnoy earns a prime spot on the network’s college football programming, while FOX gains the massive digital cross-promotion that Barstool provides.
A Slow Start Wasn’t Stunning
The focus of the partnership was never Wake Up Barstool, and it’s easy to see why.
When did FOX announce the show time, schedule, and rotation of cast members on the program? A week before the debut. Also, the week leading into a holiday weekend full of college football. Who’s paying attention during a week where people are more concerned with lining up their weekend plans for the holiday instead of making plans for appointment television on Tuesday?
Promoting a brand-new show with virtually no runway is tough. Wake Up Barstool airs live for two hours, then re-airs for two more—four hours every morning. That’s more than Colin Cowherd, Nick Wright, Danny Parkins, and the rest of FS1’s talent combined.
Did you watch the first show? I did. It was a little rough around the edges.
When you’ve never done true television before, bumps are inevitable.
The first episode was full of Portnoy asking for the “behind the scenes” to be explained to him live on air—where to look for certain highlights of discussion or even if they could use the highlights to discuss. He also didn’t know how to properly tease into a break, which is something he’s never done on any of his current Barstool-branded podcasts or video shows.
Portnoy even took a shot at FS1’s prior morning show and criticized his own graphics department for not having correct graphics created to cross-promote other Barstool Sports podcasts.
Then there was a moment where Portnoy referenced a story by CBS News, naming the outlet and misrepresenting the story itself to fit a Michigan narrative.
It got messy at times. Co-host Brandon Walker joked that at least Portnoy had attended rehearsals all week. Not exactly Marconi Award-winning content—but first impressions are harsh in live TV.
Viewership Is Low
When you don’t plan your execution, you have to expect the audience to reflect your level of care. First impressions are everything. If you believe the viewership figures presented online, viewership dropped 35% from episode one to episode two.
Last week, according to online figures, three shows dipped below 10,000 viewers.
“Awful” is how Portnoy described the viewership during the first week of the show, only to then blame lack of promotion and not knowing what to expect with the project. Keep in mind, this is a guy who does content for a living on top of running a successful digital brand. I would think there would be a little more planning for the venture they were about to take on.
It Takes Time
The show is wrapping up its third week on FS1 today, which is three more weeks than Barstool Van Talk lasted with ESPN. I wrote last month what my three keys to success for Wake Up Barstool would be. I tried to keep it simple.
The first was to be different and stand out. The content direction has certainly done that, playing into the Barstool Sports model: lots of inside Barstool discussions, references from podcasts, and digital replies.
The single biggest thing they needed to adjust for was television: commercial breaks, graphics, and highlights. The one element that most former sports radio hosts who go head-on into podcasting will tell you is having to unlearn everything you know about sports radio. Podcasting allows the freedom of time; television does not. You can tell Wake Up Barstool is still working through those learning lessons.
The second was shaking hands with FOX Sports: bringing in FOX Sports talent, personalities, and hosts to bridge the gap between partners. Wake Up Barstool has done that well. Greg Olsen and Rob Stone have made appearances, and you can see the ties between FOX Sports and the Big Ten Conference have led to some exclusive interviews with head coaches.
The third was to not lose what makes you the brand you are. The show has stayed very true to the brand and what appeals to the core audience. I recommended a free YouTube stream of the program because that’s where the Barstool audience lives. It had to be known at the time by FOX Sports executives that younger audiences don’t watch cable television.
If the focus is growing the audience, you need to play to the strength of the demo. Get the program live on YouTube and Barstool Sports social platforms. FOX Sports (so far) has bet that the Barstool audience will find FS1 on their cable plan or the new FOX One direct-to-consumer product.
They haven’t, and probably never will.
Why the Hate?
Barstool always has detractors waiting for failure. The public focus on viewership is just the latest example. But when you factor in talent, promotion, scheduling, and distribution, the results are hardly surprising.
It’s hard to change audience habits. Sports radio programmers (like myself) will tell you horror stories of trying to educate the audience to move away from the radio to the company-branded app. The digital metrics are not becoming more important; they are more important than traditional metrics for success. Viewership and rating share have become secondary to engagement and influence.
Wake Up Barstool is designed for a different audience and a different medium. Like Jordan in baseball or Punk in the UFC, Barstool is trying something new.
It may succeed, it may not—but there’s no need to dig the grave while the body is still warm.
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.
As Barrett Media celebrates its tenth anniversary this month, we wanted to tell the whole story while honoring additional former writers and contributors who have added their voices to the Barrett Media brand. For a decade, many people have spent long hours working the news cycle while elevating, celebrating, and challenging the industry. That sweat equity is what helped build Barrett Media into the place it holds in the industry today.
Countless voices have covered media surrounding sports, news, and music, ranging from a single guest column to a daily editorial voice. Feature writers have profiled the biggest and brightest stars in the industry, sharing their tales. The industry has been represented by many who have come and gone while leaving their mark along the path with Barrett Media.
There are moments in the industry when the press release doesn’t tell the entire story. The depth of understanding and information is what led me to become a daily reader of the brand and support it from its inception.
When I reached out to several former writers and columnists to share their stories of writing for Barrett Media, I was overwhelmed by the responses. I’ve only written for Barrett Media since February. So my experience is but a small echo in time compared to those I heard from—years of experience filled with stories of the past, all of whom I now call friends.
I appreciated the candor of their contributions. The praise they provided for the work at Barrett Media, which they continue to read and consume regularly. Without their efforts, Barrett Media wouldn’t be standing tall ten years after it launched.
Ryan Glasspiegel, Front Office Sports
Ryan Glasspiegel (Courtesy: Ian Rapoport on X)
Ryan Glasspiegel is the media and entertainment reporter for Front Office Sports. Prior to joining FOS in January of this year, Glasspiegel was a media reporter for OutKick and contributed to several media outlets, including Barrett Media. He is a graduate of the Wisconsin School of Business. Where he studied finance, investments, and banking—a perfect background for the fast-paced role of sports media, with rights deals closing seemingly every day.
Glasspiegel says he began following Barrett Media almost immediately after it launched in 2015.
“It covered sports talk radio at a deeper level than any other publication,” said Glasspiegel, referencing what drew him to Barrett Media.
Glasspiegel has built a career covering the media industry. Providing his signature “glass break” stories involving breaking news across the country. He has grown a social media following because of his efforts. However, the one element Glasspiegel says helps Barrett Media stand out is the balance of how the brand covers stories.
“It provides an impartial look, which is hard to come by,” said Glasspiegel.
Recalling his time with Barrett Media, Glasspiegel said there was an instance where a column by Jason Barrett sparked backlash from ESPN Radio. He says the column is a perfect example of what sets Barrett Media apart from many in the industry.
“Jason wrote a column about ESPN losing its way. He took a lot of grief for that at the time,” explained Glasspiegel. “But then all of his issues wound up being addressed.”
Glasspiegel has attended the Barrett Media Sports Summit in Chicago as a guest. He holds high regard for the passion Jason Barrett has shown in continually expanding the Barrett Media brand. The entrepreneurial spirit continues to show as time goes by.
Derek Futterman, Sports Media Watch
Derek Futterman (Linkedin Screenshot)
Derek Futterman was a member of the Barrett Media team from 2021 until earlier this summer. I had the pleasure of joining the Barrett Media team while Derek was one of the head writers on the sports media side of the business. Derek is a wordsmith. He enjoys finding new and innovative ways to tell a story, just slightly differently than the average profile writer.
In our time working together, Derek was all class. Assisting me in understanding the behind-the-scenes process of writing for Barrett Media while we collaborated on some of his feature pieces. Reaching out to Futterman for this piece allowed me to explore how he helped shape the website as a brand.
“I first became familiar with Barrett Media after winning a contest for free BSM Summit tickets in 2020,” said Futterman. “A few years later, there was an opening on the writing staff, and I made occasional contributions with news and features through college. In May 2023, I joined the company full time as a sports media reporter and wrote weekly features and daily news.”
One element of Futterman that I truly admired was his passion for “landing the big fish.” Although we are many years apart in age, I always found his desire to secure the top names for feature pieces truly inspirational. It helped guide me during my time at Barrett Media. Knowing whom to target and how to approach the art of the interview.
When I asked Futterman how he’s seen the website evolve over time, he noted several examples.
“The website has become more focused on enterprising content and distribution across multiple platforms,” said Futterman. “Lately, there is definitely a push to share content on social media and combat algorithmic changes in terms of reach.”
Futterman, who now writes for Sports Media Watch, says he continues to read the website daily. He stated Barrett Media has long served as an outlet to fill the void in sports talk radio coverage. With two daily newsletters keeping people informed of key events of the day.
Several stories stood out to Futterman during his time with Barrett Media, including the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy and industry-wide layoffs. The rise of digital platforms was also a major topic he enjoyed following.
Futterman also wrote several weekly features for Barrett Media during his tenure. These included exclusive interviews with ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus, legendary broadcaster Bob Costas, and opportunities to identify the top young professionals in media.
“It is important to have an array of voices with expertise in different areas who can address widespread changes and innovation,” said Futterman, highlighting the importance of Barrett Media to the media industry. “In sports media, Barrett Media has proven itself to be among the trusted sources of news and information across various disciplines.”
He concluded by expressing excitement to see how Barrett Media continues to expand and maintain relevance in news media and music radio in the coming years.
Brandon Contes, Awful Announcing
Brandon Contes (Youtube Screenshot)
Brandon Contes was a member of the Barrett Media team from 2017 to 2021, writing daily articles for the brand. My first interaction with Contes was when he applied for an on-air position at WDAE in Tampa Bay while I was the program director. I have followed his work since, including his entire time with Barrett Media.
Contes was the only daily writer with Barrett Media when he began his tenure, but he rose to the challenge.
“As an aspiring sports radio host at the time, I sent Jason an unsolicited article reviewing Tony Romo’s debut in the booth with CBS,” said Contes. “Jason liked the article and offered to post it, which I eagerly accepted. Jason then offered me the opportunity to contribute to the site daily, which I was even more eager to accept.”
Over time, Contes saw how the Barrett Media brand continued to expand and become a respected source within the industry. While Contes still aspired to host shows on sports radio, his time with Barrett Media revealed a new career path.
“There was constant and steady growth, which kept me eager to stay involved with the site and ultimately allowed me to realize I could have a career writing about sports media,” said Contes. “The brand has become more of a resource than just a news source. From SportsRadioPD to Barrett Sports Media to Barrett Media, you’ve seen Jason’s willingness to take chances and risks. He knew he had credibility and a following in the sports radio industry. But he’s been eager to earn that same credibility in other media circles.”
Contes, who now writes for Awful Announcing, continues to read Barrett Media daily as a source of news and information for his current role. While still heavily involved in sports media, he finds many in the industry become complacent. Contes believes this is where Barrett Media has and continues to shine the most.
“Listeners and audiences hold the industry accountable. But executives and industry leaders can be quick to dismiss their thoughts and opinions. It’s harder for those executives to be dismissive when Barrett Media holds them accountable,” explained Contes. “One of the best things about Barrett Media is that it highlights how many people truly love and are passionate about media. Sharing that passion can undoubtedly serve as a motivating factor when people find themselves becoming complacent.”
A standout memory for Contes during his time with Barrett Media was the 2020 Barrett Sports Media Summit. Growing up listening to Mike & The Mad Dog on WFAN. Contes says it was exciting to see so many of the largest personalities from sports radio in New York City come together for an event.
“It was the first time the BSM Summit was in New York,” noted Contes. “As a New York sports fan listening to WFAN, getting to see the biggest voices in New York sports media come together in one room for two days was great. Connecting with those voices was incredible.”
Contes knows that, despite the challenges independent outlets like Barrett Media face. He is confident the brand will continue to expand and thrive, thanks to the spirit and leadership of Jason Barrett.
Ryan Maguire, Westwood One Sports
Ryan Maguire (Linkedin Screengrab)
Ryan Maguire was a member of the Barrett Media team from 2019 to 2022. He helped expand coverage into news talk radio and television. Maguire left KIRO-FM in Seattle and found himself “on the beach” with a passion to return to the business he loves.
“Jason was kind enough to feature me as a weekly columnist,” said Maguire of how he joined Barrett Media in 2019. “When he combined his sports and news-talk websites into one with the launch of Barrett Media, I returned to primarily writing articles on sports.”
What drew Maguire to Barrett Media was the story behind why the brand existed.
“I have to give Jason, Stephanie [Eads], and the entire team credit,” explained Maguire. “When Jason left his PD job in San Francisco and decided to go into business for himself. I was actually worried for him. Consulting is a tough field, even for someone as smart as Jason and with ideas valuable to any media brand.”
Maguire immediately recognized the challenges Barrett Media would face in a crowded online field dominated by established brands. He said the risk taken by Jason Barrett was truly inspirational.
“I knew he had a tough road ahead. Little by little, though, he started to grow steadily. He added more clients and staff. Branched out into the news and music side of the industry, and took calculated risks that paid off,” said Maguire. “Now, he has a diversified business that entertains, informs, and serves the media industry.”
Maguire, now Vice President of Affiliate Sales for Westwood One Sports, is a daily reader of the website. He noted BarrettMedia.com should be a bookmark, homepage, and starting point for anyone working in mass media.
With a passion for media coverage in his blood, Maguire says Barrett Media continues to serve as a needed voice to elevate and challenge the industry.
“We need forward-thinking media people making honest assessments of where we are and where we need to go,” stated Maguire.
He wrapped his thoughts on Barrett Media with a personal story of his experience working for Jason Barrett. One he treasures to this day.
“When JB asked me to write for him initially, it was a rough time personally and professionally,” explained Maguire. “I was in between jobs, during the height of COVID lockdowns, and life wasn’t much fun. But having a forum to showcase myself, my ideas, and my personal brand meant the world to me. It gave me the mental and professional boost I needed at the time.”
When Jason Barrett planted the roots of what became Barrett Media. He began with a vision—an understanding that there was a hole in the trades for another voice. Ten years is a lifetime for most small businesses but should also be considered a mark of achievement.
While the industry faces many challenges, Barrett Media’s rise to success is due to its ability to think differently, be recognized, and create a community for a better tomorrow—all fueled by the many voices who contributed to the platform, and many more to come.
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.
