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KCAL-FM 96.7 Launches All Music Classic Rock Format

David Hill
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KCAL-FM 96.7 Launches All Music Classic Rock Format

KCAL-FM 96.7 shifts to “All Music, All the Time” classic rock Saturday. Anaheim Broadcasting reduced on-air talk to emphasize songs and artists across generations.

What We Know: Anaheim Broadcasting rebuilt KCAL around listener-preferred classic rock hits. The format features broader song selection spanning multiple generations while emphasizing fewer interruptions throughout the day. Notably, COO Kelly Sanders emphasized they “built it right here at home.” Meanwhile, sister station KOLA-FM 99.9 operates a classic hits format alongside KCAL’s new classic rock direction.

What’s at Stake: The format change strategically gives Anaheim Broadcasting two distinct music brands in the market. Furthermore, advertisers gain two separate options for reaching established adult consumers. Additionally, KCAL maintains its longstanding Inland Empire presence through strategic differentiation from competitors. Ultimately, the strategy positions both stations as consistent listening options for the region’s audiences.

What Remains Unclear: Management hasn’t defined the specific playlist era focus. Managers haven’t clarified local programming integration plans. Rival stations haven’t announced competitive responses yet. The company hasn’t revealed revenue projections.

What It Means: Music-focused formats continue gaining significant traction across radio markets nationally. KCAL’s transition reflects an industry-wide shift toward safer, music-heavy programming strategies. The station’s previous format ultimately gives way to this personality-reduced approach, prioritizing audio content now. While talent opportunities remain viable for future integration, stations are strategically repositioning music first.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Tom Corson Elevated to WMG Chief Operating Officer

David Hill
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Tom Corson Elevated to WMG Chief Operating Officer

Tom Corson Elevated to Warner Music Group Chief Operating Officer. The Warner Records Co-Chairman moves to a company-wide operational leadership role.

What We Know Corson now oversees global marketing, merchandise, direct-to-consumer operations, and supply chain across all of Warner Music Group. He joined Warner Records in 2018 as Co-Chairman and COO. Meanwhile, he transformed the label into a powerhouse alongside Co-Chairman and CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck. The label’s roster spans Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dua Lipa, and Zach Bryan. They’ve added breakthrough artists like Benson Boone, Michael Bublé, Teddy Swims, and Linkin Park.

What They Said CEO Robert Kyncl praised Corson as “one of the most dynamic, respected, and effective executives in the music business.” According to Kyncl, “Together with Aaron, he’s helped architect Warner Records’ resurgence.” Corson responded by calling the role “an honor to step into during such a transformative era.” He emphasized his commitment to “turbocharge operations and create even more impactful opportunities for artists and songwriters worldwide.”

What Remains Unclear The timeline for Corson’s transition from Warner Records leadership hasn’t been disclosed. Additionally, the company hasn’t announced who replaces him at the label. The scope of departmental reorganization stays undefined at this time. Will his expanded focus shift resources away from day-to-day label operations?

What It Means This promotion signals Warner Music Group’s prioritization of operational discipline and efficiency. Corson’s appointment demonstrates that the Warner Records model translates across the broader organization. Furthermore, his extensive experience positions WMG to accelerate growth in underperforming divisions. The move likely reshapes how the company manages ancillary revenue streams and artist development infrastructure.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Audacy to Shut Down 840 KXNT in September

Garrett Searight
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Audacy to Shut Down 840 KXNT in September

Audacy is ending 840 KXNT after nearly four decades on the air. Morning host Alan Stock announced the station will cease operations September 1.

What We Know: Audacy’s 840 KXNT will conclude broadcast operations on Tuesday, September 1, according to morning host Alan Stock. The news marks the end of a Las Vegas news/talk brand that launched in 1986 and operates with a 50,000-watt daytime, 25,000-watt nighttime, Class B signal. Meanwhile, Stock will transition to mornings on sister station 101.5 KDWN after KXNT signs off. Audacy will also move The Erick Erickson Show to KDWN, preserving one of the station’s syndicated offerings. Although the station’s over-the-air presence will end, the company is repositioning key personalities and programming within its Las Vegas portfolio.

What They Said: “I have an important update for our listeners. Effective September 1, News Talk 840 KXNT will conclude its broadcast operation. To put it simply, the station’s transmitter site is shutting down. Our parent company, Audacy, explored a number of alternative transmission options, but ultimately wasn’t able to identify a technically and financially viable long-term solution. This wasn’t an easy decision.” -Alan Stock

What Remains Unclear: Audacy hasn’t detailed the decision-making behind the move. However, Audacy Las Vegas Senior Vice President/Market Manager Gina Massenzi said that the full slate of current and part-time employees would remain with the company.

What It Means: The shutdown closes the chapter on one of Las Vegas’ longtime news/talk outlets. However, Audacy’s decision to move Alan Stock and The Erick Erickson Show to KDWN signals the company still sees value in maintaining a local and syndicated talk lineup despite the loss of KXNT’s transmitter facility. The move also underscores how infrastructure challenges can reshape even established radio brands when long-term technical and financial solutions aren’t available.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Chris Carlin: CBS Sports Possibly Attempting To Get Out Of Contract With Tony Romo

John Mamola
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Chris Carlin: CBS Sports Possibly Attempting To Get Out Of Contract With Tony Romo

Chris Carlin isn’t buying CBS’s statement regarding Tony Romo only being placed on leave. The ESPN New York host believes the network is aiming to get out of Tony Romo’s contract entirely.

What We Know: CBS placed Romo on leave “until further notice” on Friday. He was arrested last week in Milwaukee on suspicion of OWI. Deputies cited him for failing sobriety tests and having an open container. Romo remains roughly four years into a 10-year, $180 million deal. The network announced that JJ Watt will fill in for Romo alongside Jim Nantz. Following the announcement of CBS placing Romo on leave, Carlin says that the statement from the network is potentially positioning them for something more.

What They Said: (All quotes via ESPN New York)

Chris Carlin feels CBS wants out of their agreement with Tony Romo: “What I think is trying to happen here is that CBS is trying to figure out how to get out of it. They owe him four years and 72 billion. Is Tony Romo ever going to call its game again for CBS? I think if you asked them today, their preference is no, and they would like to get out.”

Chris Carlin feels CBS is aiming for a settled agreement on a departure: “It’s going to come down to a settlement. It’s going to come down to what is it worth to CBS to ask Tony Romo to walk away versus actually asking him to tighten it up over the next couple of years.”

Chris Carlin believes CBS putting Tony Romo on leave is a strategy leading up to his court date: “I think right now CBS is probably waiting for September 21st. Can we get out without paying you anything, based on how you handle this. Or are we gonna have to pay you 25 million to go away?”

What Remains Unclear: Whether or not CBS Sports will work on a settlement with Romo is unknown. Also, if there is a clause in Romo’s agreement with the network that was violated because of his arrest is also unknown.

What It Means: If Carlin’s read is right, Romo’s CBS run likely ends through negotiation, not termination. That path lets CBS sidestep a legal fight while still moving on. J.J. Watt, already filling in, stands to gain the most. For Romo, the arrest may end up costing him his booth as much as his court date. However, if CBS Sports stays with Romo, it will be interesting to see if the incident motivates Romo for a better performance than recently.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Spotify Campaign Lift AI Tool Justifies Discovery Mode Royalties

David Hill
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Spotify Campaign Lift AI Tool Justifies Discovery Mode Royalties

Spotify rolls out “Campaign Lift,” an AI analytics tool for Discovery Mode campaigns. The platform wants artists to measure whether lower royalties actually drive growth.

What We Know Spotify introduced Campaign Lift to estimate stream impact. The AI tool compares actual Discovery Mode streams against predicted baseline streams. Machine learning models factor in historical data, monthly listeners, genre, and playlist placement history. Artists with 500+ streams in Discovery Mode contexts during the previous month now access this metric alongside existing tools.

What’s at Stake Discovery Mode has drawn criticism as streaming payola since launch. Artists accept reduced royalties for platform promotion—a trade-off demanding proof of value. Campaign Lift measures audience growth, engagement, and stream performance while tracking saves, playlist adds, and intent rates. Crucially, metrics update daily during campaigns and continue for 14 days after campaigns end.

What Remains Unclear How accurate are Spotify’s baseline predictions? The platform acknowledges that external trends—viral social media, organic momentum—skew real-world performance. Artists lack independent verification of Spotify’s machine-learning models. Equally important, industry consensus on tool reliability remains absent and skeptics question whether Campaign Lift highlights genuine value or program limitations.

What It Means Spotify attempts to legitimize its controversial economic model through data transparency. The move suggests the platform recognizes artist doubts about Discovery Mode’s actual value. However, providing metrics doesn’t resolve fundamental tensions between platform economics and fair artist compensation. Expect industry debate over whether these numbers represent genuine insights or sophisticated justification for paying artists less.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Bill Handel: It’s Clear FCC Attacking ABC on Trump’s Behalf

Garrett Searight
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Bill Handel: It’s Clear FCC Attacking ABC on Trump’s Behalf

Bill Handel accused the FCC of targeting ABC for political reasons. The KFI-AM 640 host linked the agency’s actions to President Donald Trump.

What We Know: Bill Handel used his nationally recognized morning show to argue the FCC is pursuing ABC as political retribution tied to President Donald Trump. The longtime KFI-AM 640 host made the comments while discussing the commission’s ongoing scrutiny of the Disney-owned broadcaster. Handel contended the agency isn’t acting independently. Instead, he suggested federal regulators are carrying out the president’s agenda against a media company he believes has drawn Trump’s criticism. His remarks add another prominent media voice to the broader debate surrounding the FCC’s role and whether its recent actions are politically motivated.

What They Said: “It’s a case of retribution, simple as that. You say anything against the president? He uses the powers of the presidency, the executive branch — in this case, the FCC — to go after that organization. As I’ve said many, many times before, we are in a whole new world, to say the least.” -Bill Handel

What Remains Unclear: It’s still unclear whether the FCC’s review of ABC will result in any regulatory action. Likewise, the commission hasn’t indicated that political considerations influence its decisions. Federal regulators have maintained that they evaluate broadcast matters under existing law and commission policy rather than partisan concerns.

What It Means: Handel’s comments reflect growing concern among media personalities about the relationship between politics and broadcast regulation. As scrutiny of major television networks continues, debates over the FCC’s independence will likely remain in focus. Moreover, accusations that regulators are acting on behalf of elected officials could intensify political pressure on the commission while fueling broader discussions about press freedom, government oversight, and the limits of federal regulatory authority.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Dan Patrick “Takes Pride” In NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Still Not Appearing On His Show

John Mamola
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Dan Patrick “Takes Pride” In NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Still Not Appearing On His Show

Dan Patrick says Roger Goodell has avoided him for 20 years. He’s not bothered by it. In fact, he’s proud of it.

What We Know: Roger Goodell hasn’t joined The Dan Patrick Show since the program launched over two decades ago. Meanwhile, other league commissioners have made appearances, including NBA commissioner Adam Silver and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. Patrick raised the topic during a conversation with Dan Le Batard. Patrick admitted he still doesn’t know an exact reasoning why Goodell has not appeared, but he does own a sense of pride with it.

What They Said: (All quotes via The Dan Le Batard Show):

Dan Patrick on Roger Goodell not appearing on his radio show: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the NFL commissioner has not been on my show in 20 years. The other commissioners have. Adam Silver, Rob Manfred. I don’t know if it’s my line of questioning. There has to be something there. Nobody’s told me that, but I take pride in it.”

Dan Patrick on why he would welcome an interview with Roger Goodell: “No one’s ever said anything. He hasn’t said anything to me, and he doesn’t owe me anything. I want answers. We try to we go after everybody. My Booker Fritzy will go after everybody. I want to give you a fair shake on this. Whoever it is, let’s get the other side of the story. I just don’t want to go or always say, hey, we reached out and we were told you know they weren’t available, At least reach out. I just want to be fair.”

Dan Patrick on how he approaches any interview with any subject: “What is going to differentiate me from them? What are the answers that I’m going to get? It’s going to be I’m going to be prepared. I’ll be better prepared. At least that’s always my goal. I will ask the right question, and hopefully get the right answer.”

What Remains Unclear: The NFL has not commented on why Goodell has yet to make an appearance on the program. Whether or not Patrick’s program has reached out recently is also unknown.

What It Means: The lack of appearances by Goodell on Patrick’s program gives a perspective that Patrick may confront the commissioner on league matters. Whether or not the NFL cares for that sense of perspective is unknown. However, Patrick insists he isn’t chasing a gotcha, just a fair interview. His approach, he says, comes down to preparation and asking sharp questions. Ultimately, a 20-year silence speaks louder than any answer would.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Bill O’Reilly: NewsNation Uses Me as ‘Utility Player’ to Drive Ratings Growth

Garrett Searight
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Bill O’Reilly: NewsNation Uses Me as ‘Utility Player’ to Drive Ratings Growth

Bill O’Reilly believes he’s helping drive NewsNation’s recent audience growth. NewsNation’s primetime ratings also continue moving higher year-over-year.

What We Know: Bill O’Reilly argued that his appearances have contributed to NewsNation’s recent ratings gains during an interview on Sid & Friends in the Morning with Sid Rosenberg on 77 WABC. His comments came as the cable news network posted strong momentum in July. According to Nielsen data, NewsNation’s July primetime audience increased by more than 30% compared to July 2025. O’Reilly has made several appearances on the network, most notably joining Chris Cuomo for political discussions and debates.

What They Said: “NewsNation is coming up in the ratings. They’re kind of using me as a utility person to jack up numbers when they need them. But I love doing Cuomo’s show because it’s the best debate show on television right now.” -Bill O’Reilly

What Remains Unclear: It’s unknown whether NewsNation executives share O’Reilly’s assessment of his impact on the network’s audience growth. Likewise, neither the network nor Nielsen has released ratings data showing viewership differences between episodes featuring O’Reilly and those without him. As a result, the extent of his direct influence remains difficult to measure.

What It Means: O’Reilly’s remarks highlight NewsNation’s continued effort to feature recognizable television personalities as it competes with Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and Newsmax. Meanwhile, the network’s year-over-year ratings growth suggests that strategy has helped attract additional viewers. Whether O’Reilly deserves significant credit remains open for debate, but his comments underscore the value established media brands can still bring to emerging cable news competitors.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Universal Music Group Paywalls India New Releases Exclusively

David Hill
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Universal Music Group Paywalls India New Releases Exclusively

Universal Music Group just announced a fundamental shift in India’s streaming economics. Beginning late August, all new releases will be exclusive to paid subscribers for exactly 72 hours.

What We Know UMG enforces a rigid 72-hour paywall across all Indian platforms. Every new release debuts exclusively on premium tiers first. After three days, ad-supported services finally gain access. Importantly, this paywall applies to both domestic Indian artists and major international superstars simultaneously. UMG will apply this strategy universally across competing services.

What’s at Stake Artist compensation rises significantly under this model. The paywall mechanism redirects casual listeners toward paid subscriptions. India’s music ecosystem becomes progressively more sustainable and economically mature. Meanwhile, UMG positions itself strategically ahead of competitors in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets. This approach strengthens superfan economics and deeper artist-listener connections.

What Remains Unclear The exact timeline for eventual U.S. implementation remains mysteriously uncertain. Spotify’s free-tier losses would likely prove substantial domestically. Service adoption rates across fragmented Indian platforms remain genuinely unpredictable. Finally, international competitors may actively resist or legally challenge this exclusive window approach.

What It Means China demonstrated this paywalling strategy works powerfully at scale. UMG’s explosive success there directly influenced this India announcement. Superfans willing to pay drive artist revenue and lasting career longevity. Consequently, global streaming economics may fundamentally shift toward sustainability. This boldly signals where the entire music industry heads next.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

MeTV FM Returns to Coachella Valley Radio Dial

David Hill
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MeTV FM Returns to Coachella Valley Radio Dial

MeTV FM Returns to 92.1 in Coachella Valley. KMEE Thermal/Indio will flip formats Monday, August 3.

MeTV FM returns to the Coachella Valley airwaves Monday on 92.1 FM. The classic hits station rejoins the KGAY PSP media family after launching Sunny 106.5 FM last year.

What We Know KGAY PSP officially launches MeTV FM on August 3, 2026. The station operates on the 92.1 frequency in Thermal, California. The format spans five decades of music from the ’50s through ’80s. Additionally, the station’s 3,500-song library rotates 350+ different tracks daily with zero repeats.

What They Said “We heard repeatedly from MeTV FM fans they missed the music and memories,” Brad Fuhr, KGAY PSP’s owner and CEO, explained in a statement. Importantly, Fuhr highlighted a special feature called “Mid-Century Memorable.” These segments will spotlight timeless classics like Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea.” Consequently, the station positions itself as more than entertainment—it’s cultural nostalgia.

What Remains Unclear The company hasn’t announced on-air talent details yet. Furthermore, specific programming beyond weekend themes and birthday specials remain unknown. Additionally, KGAY PSP hasn’t disclosed ratings benchmarks or advertiser partnerships. Finally, the launch event specifics await future announcements.

What It Means MeTV FM’s return proves listener demand can reverse format changes in radio. Instead, many broadcasters stick with safe, proven formats rather than experimenting. Notably, KGAY PSP’s multi-station strategy lets one owner serve diverse audiences without risky pivots. Ultimately, this launch shows that consolidation works when operators understand their local markets.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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