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Radio’s Most Obvious Missed Opportunity: A Culture-Forward Classic Hits Format

Phil Becker
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Radio’s Most Obvious Missed Opportunity: A Culture-Forward Classic Hits Format

Last week, I laid out what I believe is one of the most obvious format opportunities radio has missed: a women-led, culture-forward sports format that isn’t niche, novelty, or women’s sports podcasts on a broadcast signal.

The response told me two things.

First, the opportunity resonated. The amount of private outreach I received after that article made it clear that the interest, demand, and opportunity are very real.

Second, we don’t spend nearly enough time creating new formats for the oldest medium. Instead, we age ourselves faster by pretending there are only about 13 viable radio formats left.

This week, I’m here to make the same point again: the best ideas are usually the most obvious ones. We just talk ourselves out of them.

“Who else is in the format?”
“That’s not what I’d listen to.”
“Clients aren’t asking for that.”
“It’s not monitored on the panel.”

Or maybe we just don’t have enough media executives who actually came up through programming.

Whatever the block is, let me help you work through.

Welcome to the second installment of Phil’s Overly Obvious Formats : Chapter II.

The Format Hiding in Plain Sight (Again)

Radio keeps asking the same questions.

  • How do we keep diverse listeners as they age?
  • How do we stop losing relevance without chasing youth?
  • How do we modernize without sounding desperate?
  • How do we own a position when all the format lanes are taken?

(Something about this sounds oddly familiar.)

Still streaming. Still quoted. And still shaping culture. Still influencing fashion, language, movies, social, language and taste.

Classic hits. For black music fans.

Not as nostalgia. Not as “old school.” And Not as throwbacks.

Meet Unk

The format is called Unk. “The songs you never stopped living with.”

Unk (noun)
/unk/

The culturally fluent older person. A trusted source. See also: memory, lived-in classics, quiet confidence. Used affectionately, sometimes playfully, always respectfully.

Plus, Black Jack feels like something Meruelo would own, and I’d bet that name has a trademark on it.

Not Old. Not Urban AC. And not What You Think.

Let’s get precise, because this is where radio usually fumbles the bag.

Unk is not:

  • Urban AC with a deeper list
  • A “remember when” format
  • A pop-based Classic Hits station with a few Black artists sprinkled in
  • About being retro

Unk is classic hits for black music fans of any race — songs pulled from every coast, every region, and every era that matters.

It’s about playing what’s under-exposed, forgotten, or underserved.

Why This Works Now

Ten years ago, this would’ve been miscast as Throwbacks. Five years ago, it might’ve been framed as pandemic comfort food.

Today, I’d frame this as taste.

The core audience is 45–55, of any race. They have teenage kids. College-age kids. Adult age kids.
Cultural confidence. Gender balance.

They don’t need radio to teach them anything. They know everything about the genre.

This audience:

  • Grew up buying albums, cassettes, and CDs—and if you were a real music nerd (hi, it’s me), you even flirted with MiniDiscs for a minute (yes, I have Cooleyhighharmony on MiniDisc, rendering it both artistic and adorable).
  • Grew up accepting music of all kinds.
  • Was shaped by voices like Martha Quinn, Ed Lover, Carson Daly, Fab 5 Freddy, Downtown Julie Brown, Casey Kasem, Rick Dees, Don Cornelius, Pauly Shore, Bill Bellamy and Daisy Fuentes.

They’re nostalgic—but not stuck.

Radio didn’t lose them because the music stopped mattering. Radio lost them because the presentation got lazy, predictable, over-researched, and homogenized.

The Jack FM Comparison

Yes, this is a “few rules, more vibe” format.

But let’s be clear about the difference.

Jack FM is about Jack. His jokes, ego, name, songs, and insistence that he’s funny.

Jack is the out-of-touch uncle telling you how clever he is.

Unk is the opposite.

Unk is about the listener and the music. No ego. Air personalities with real names. Songs the listener wants—not what Unk wants.

The philosophy is simple: You know the music. We don’t need to explain it.

No forced puns. No dad jokes or “remember this one?” energy.

Turn Jack off. Turn Unk on. Can I say that?

A Structural Shift (Not a Playlist Change)

Like the women’s sports format I outlined last week, this isn’t about swapping content inside an existing format. It’s about casting storytellers who lived with, in, and around this missing music.

That means:

  • Culture narrators, not “in the building, you already know who this is” hype DJs
  • Hosts who care about you, the music, and the life you’re living now
  • Not radio congratulating itself for being “different.”

To this audience, you’re not different, you’re finally playing what they wished you had been playing the entire time.

What an Hour on Unk Actually Sounds Like

A sonically diverse, coast-to-coast, era-spanningsample hour:

  1. Mary J. Blige – Family Affair (2001)
  2. Johnny Kemp – Just Got Paid (1983)
  3. The Weeknd – Starboy (2016)
  4. The Whispers – And the Beat Goes On (1979)
  5. Destiny’s Child – Jumpin’, Jumpin’ (2000)
  6. Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me (1991)
  7. Rihanna – Work (2016)
  8. New Edition – Candy Girl (1983)
  9. 2Pac – California Love (1995)
  10. Cherish – Do It to It (2006)
  11. Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation (1989)
  12. Zapp – More Bounce to the Ounce (1980)
  13. Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us (2024)
  14. The Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money Mo Problems (1997)
  15. Zhané – Hey Mr. DJ (1994)
  16. Akon – I Wanna Love You (2006)
  17. Laid Back – White Horse (1983)
  18. Michael Jackson – Remember the Time (1994)
  19. Bruno Mars – I Just Might (2026)

The Audience Radio Can Bring Back Today

Unk is built for Black music fans who:

  • Still love music deeply
  • Don’t want to be yelled at
  • Don’t need validation
  • Buy cars, travel, spirits, wellness, and experiences

The magic here is simple: you’re targeting a life group that grew up on radio, has an affinity for radio, and might still choose you over Spotify—if you surprise them, respect them, and show them they’re valued.

In between 15 minutes of commercials, of course.

Where This Makes Immediate Sense:

  • Atlanta
  • DC
  • Houston
  • Chicago
  • Detroit
  • Los Angeles
  • Dallas
  • Philadelphia
  • Charlotte

Anywhere Black music is listened to, appreciated, and in demand.

P.S. The correct answer is everywhere.

The Phil-Osophy

Year one proves it works. Year three proves it scales. By year five, everyone claims they saw it coming.

They won’t be wrong. They’ll just be late.

(I feel like I’ve read that somewhere before).

-Uncle Phil

(Shout out to the late great James Avery).

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.

How a Fatal ICE Shooting Became a National Media and Political Firestorm

Lauren Ashburn
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How a Fatal ICE Shooting Became a National Media and Political Firestorm

One woman is dead. The nation is on edge. And the Trump administration’s response to a fatal ICE shooting has turned a tragedy into a full-blown national outrage.

Instead of caution, restraint, or humility, Washington and the media, came out swinging, loudly, aggressively, and prematurely. And in doing so, may have poured gasoline on an already raging fire.

When Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, it ignited a political and media controversy almost unlike anything seen since the 2020 murder, also in Minneapolis, of George Floyd by a police officer. Floyd was a petty criminal, but his murder triggered a wave of riots.  

The fatal shooting of Renee Good, after she had dropped off her child at school, has fueled an ugly debate. It stirred up nationwide protests, viral online video disputes, debates between conservative and liberal media, and a mess for local law enforcement, President Trump, and the administration. And it has energized young and old who normally don’t pay attention to politics. 

Within hours of the shooting death, the administration had already settled on its story: the ICE agent was in danger, the shooting was justified, and critics were reckless. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quickly branded the encounter everything from self-defense to “domestic terrorism” just as the investigation was starting and before the public had seen all the videos.

Both sides raced to define the story before the probe could. Facts were still emerging. Various videos were incomplete, and context was missing. None of that slowed the furious coverage on cable news and websites. 

That rush to judgment — seen wall-to-wall on TV — didn’t calm tensions. It utterly inflamed them.

Vice President J.D. Vance defended the agent’s actions as self‑defense, yet tragic, and a “reasonable” response to a perceived threat. 

CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Noem on “State of the Union” about why she didn’t wait for an investigation. She defended herself, saying “everything that I’ve said has been proven to be factual, and the truth.”

Federal officials said the ICE agent involved, Jonathan Ross, fired at Good’s head after she allegedly weaponized her vehicle against officers. Analysis of video from the scene of the shooting done by the New York Times shows Good’s vehicle was not aggressively advancing on the agent when Ross shot her not once but three times at close range, and appeared to be turning away from the officer. Good even told the agent she wasn’t mad at him, and then, in a perhaps panicked decision that cost her her life, tried to speed away. 

GOP leaders are defending the shooting and blasting liberal media for “misrepresentation.” 

Far‑right commentators emphasized Good’s identity, activism, and alleged obstruction, language that has sparked outrage on TV, online, and offline. 

On Fox News, the message was clear and unwavering: Back the badge, blame the press.

Jesse Watters focused on Good’s personal life. “The woman who lost her life was a self‑proclaimed poet…with pronouns in her bio.” Critics say that tactic felt less like analysis and more like character assassination. Coverage on Fox also highlighted criticisms from academics or protestors in ways that portrayed them as radical or extreme. And Fox headlines criticized Hillary Clinton for amplifying “left-wing murder” claims.

Fox also linked Ross’s perspective to his past experience, when he was dragged by a vehicle driven by an illegal-alien sex offender – and needed dozens of stitches – to justify his caution. The opposite can also be true that an agent with that kind of experience should not be put back on the front lines. 

ESPN host and famed social critic Stephen A. Smith straddled the fence, saying on his show this about the ICE agent: “From a lawful perspective…don’t expect him to be prosecuted. He was completely justified…from a humanitarian perspective, however, why did he have to do that?”

But not Tucker Carlson, who notably dissented from many conservative voices. He urged empathy and cautioned against treating the incident merely as political ammunition, insisting that conservatives “view it through a human lens,” and calling Good’s death a “human tragedy” rather than only a law-enforcement issue. 

Liberal and mainstream outlets told very different stories. It’s two Americas, two realities, and it became cable TV combat. 

Some liberal media framed the story as an abuse of power that demanded accountability. When talking to reporters, New York’s Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Trump of “assassinating” a young mother in the street. 

On Katy Tur Reports on MS NOW, a former ICE director in the Obama administration raised concerns about trust, saying her administration handled immigration with “a limited cadre of officers,” and didn’t go into schools or churches. “Why not work with the community instead of coming in like gangbusters?” 

And on Nicole Wallace’s ultra-liberal MS NOW show, Deadline: White House, Republican strategist and anti-Trump crusader Tim Miller of The Bulwark blasted the administration. “This is not America. People don’t want it.”

Jen Psaki, who not only has a primetime MS NOW show, but of course, Joe Biden’s former press secretary, spent a long time eviscerating ICE by relying on the latest video that she believes shows the utter recklessness of the agent.

During the confrontation, Renee Good told the agent, “That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad.” as he was using his cell phone to record Good and her wife, Becca Good,” who demanded: “You wanna come at us?” The agent cursed out Renee Good who had been participating in a protest in response to ICE agents spotted in the neighborhood.

Social media was worse. Clips didn’t have context, and commentary went viral at lightning speed. It seemed that every post became evidence, or propaganda, depending on who was sharing it.

The ICE shooting didn’t have to become a national firestorm, but the media, chasing clicks and confirmation, made sure it did.

This wasn’t just a failure of government restraint. It was, in part, a failure of media responsibility. The bottom line is that liberal media believe power must justify itself, and that a civilian death raises serious questions about use of force, and cries out for accountability. Conservative media say authority must be protected to maintain order. 

The ICE shooting didn’t have to become a national melee – but the media, chasing clicks and confirmation, and the administration playing politics, made sure it did.

And America is worse for it.

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.

Why Aesthetic Branding Is Vital To Earn Attention in an Algorithmic Ecosystem

Mike Gunz
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Why Aesthetic Branding Is Vital To Earn Attention in an Algorithmic Ecosystem

Artists are no longer just the musicians we see on stage. The algorithmic-fueled world of music listening and discovery continues to grow. Many artists realize that having a clearly identifiable branding may be what separates them from everyone else. Musicians are now marketers, creative directors, and storytellers — record labels be damned.

One of the best ways to do this is through aesthetic branding. Many newer artists are using social media as a “palette,” if you would, to introduce themselves and their music to the world.

Aesthetic branding allows them to have a visual identity that gives off a specific feeling and emotion. This captures the artist’s mood and the listener’s as well. No longer does an artist have to rely solely on radio or television to be heard. They can now do so from the comfort of their social media pages.

Music streaming platforms continue to move toward AI and algorithms — essentially dehumanizing the music experience. Aesthetic branding allows the artist to take control of their story in the way they desire, rather than what an algorithm may recommend.

From Sound To Strategy

“Aesthetics and storytelling go hand in hand,” independent artist Nicole Alexis explained. “Having a consistent visual identity has made it easier for people to connect with my music online. It starts telling the story before the music even plays.”

It’s worked. Alexis has over 300 thousand Instagram followers and multiple videos that have gone viral, earning millions of views on YouTube.

Her aesthetic has allowed not only her original music to be discovered, but also her cover songs to gain the attention of the artists themselves. Bands like Hoobastank, Breaking Benjamin, Dashboard Confessional, and more have all publicly complimented her on her unique renditions of their songs.

Not bad for an independent female artist who records, mixes, and produces all of her music herself.

“Visuals set the mood and give context to the emotion behind the song. This helps people understand who I am as an artist right away, so when they scroll past a video, it already feels intentional and familiar,” she further explained.

Marketing Plans and Album Rollouts

A coherent aesthetic brand allows an artist to create moments and momentum on their own. Artists don’t have to wait for traditional media to give them validation. In many ways, one could argue that music media is now far more reactionary than leading.

In recent years, mainstream artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish have built global followings. Not only for their music, but also for the branding around it and themselves. Both deserve credit for their hard work. Their immense success has also resulted in massive marketing budgets behind them — something emerging artists clearly don’t have the luxury of.

The good news is that newer artists and bands now have the ability to break through even without major financial backing. Artists are using effective aesthetic branding to create buzz and get people talking — which is ultimately what every artist hopes for.

In Color Uses Color to Amplify Story

Nashville-based alt-rock band In Color are a perfect example of this approach. When the band launched last year, they generated initial buzz on social media with a cryptic-style aesthetic before releasing their first song. The color coding, font choices, and overall mood attracted curious followers, who were then introduced to the music once it arrived.

“We want to be able to curate what we like when it comes to visuals and all of it. Not just the music,” In Color’s Matthew Hastings explained on The Gunz Show.

The rollout has paid off. Along with strong-sounding songs, the band has created momentum that has many within the industry paying attention. In Color is now gearing up for a headlining tour this spring that already includes sold-out shows in several cities.

“Haven’t had this much excitement and anticipation like this in quite a while,” one Instagram follower wrote on the band’s latest post which consisted of a four-second video clip promoting something set to be released in the coming days. A new song? A music video? In Color doesn’t say, but it doesn’t matter.

Their consistent branding has built loyalty among their fanbase, which continues to grow as more listeners discover their music. It’s a win-win situation that excites both the band and their fans.

“We just like to have every part of what we do be something that we like. The music creation aspect and visual process is fun, and we’re just getting started,” Hastings added.

A Necessary Component

It is increasingly difficult for artists to break out in today’s landscape. Especially with unpredictable and constantly changing streaming algorithms. That is why music media — including radio and podcasts — remains vitally important.

However, many artists now recognize branding as a necessary tool that can amplify their music. It creates a vibe and allows a story to be told on the artist’s terms. When executed properly, it can help grow a fanbase and lead to success doing what they love.

For the artists who do it authentically — without being phony — they are already ahead of the curve.

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.

One Way Conservative Radio Can Open the Tent to the Other Side

Garrett Searight
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One Way Conservative Radio Can Open the Tent to the Other Side

I appeared on The Mike Gallagher Show earlier this week to talk about the conservative media infighting seen from the likes of Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, and Mark Levin, among others. While I was on hold, the Salem Radio Network host welcomed dissenting opinions from his own about the ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis. Conservative radio doesn’t always do that. In fact, it rarely does.

Mike Gallagher made no bones about it: he only wanted to hear from those who disagreed with him. That caught my attention immediately. Plenty of times, conservative radio is labeled as an echo chamber. And, frankly, there are moments when that criticism is deserved.

Too often, the format feels safe, predictable, and insular. Hosts speak. Audiences applaud, nod along, and think “That’s exactly how I feel!”

Talking points bounce around the room without much resistance. That approach may feel comfortable, but it also feeds the perception that conservative radio has little interest in scrutiny or debate. That’s a problem for a medium built on persuasion and opinion.

In a similar vein to the old phrase “Republicans buy sneakers, too,” the idea that liberals don’t listen to talk radio simply isn’t true. They listen. They just do it differently. Many tune in to conservative voices specifically to hear what “the other side” thinks and feels. Sometimes it’s curiosity. Sometimes it’s frustration. Oftentimes, it’s fuel.

Those listeners are already there. The question is whether conservative radio chooses to acknowledge them or pretend they don’t exist. Because here’s the reality: nobody’s radio show has too many listeners. There isn’t a single host in America who can honestly say, “We’re good. We don’t need any more audience.”

So why not welcome them in?

That doesn’t mean surrendering principles or turning every segment into a shouting match. It doesn’t mean false balance or manufactured outrage. It means allowing disagreement into the conversation and trusting your audience enough to hear it. You can welcome dissent while still disagreeing — firmly, clearly, and respectfully.

Mike Gallagher did exactly that. He set the terms plainly. He wasn’t looking for affirmation or applause, he wanted pushback. And he invited callers who challenged his own position and let them speak without being rushed or ridiculed. That takes confidence. It also takes discipline.

One of the quiet weaknesses of talk radio — on both sides of the aisle — is how rarely beliefs are tested. I try to subscribe to the theory that unchallenged beliefs are easily held. When audiences only hear reinforcement, convictions harden without being refined. Over time, that leads to slogans instead of arguments.

Challenging your audience doesn’t alienate them. In many cases, it deepens loyalty. People appreciate hosts who are secure enough in their views to let sunlight in. They appreciate conversations that sound like real life, not rehearsed monologues.

Conservative radio doesn’t need to become something else to grow. It simply needs to trust its own ideas enough to expose them to disagreement. Strong ideas don’t crumble under pressure. They sharpen.

There is room on the dial for conviction and curiosity. There is room for firmness without hostility. And there is room for listeners who don’t agree with you — yet.

Open the door. Invite them in. Challenge them, and let them challenge you. I suspect many hosts would be surprised by what happens next.

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.

Why Katie Pavlich Believes Small Businesses Will Be Central to Her NewsNation Show

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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Why Katie Pavlich Believes Small Businesses Will Be Central to Her NewsNation Show

She is the latest host to join NewsNation. Katie Pavlich is set to make her mark in the outlet’s 10 PM ET timeslot when she takes over the program next week. 

“I love current events. I love watching how things unfold, and I love having a front row seat to history,” Katie Pavlich told Barrett Media.

One major topic she is looking to tackle?

“I think there’s a lot of room there with our show to try and find some interesting businesses and small businesses and talk about their stories and even with the policies that are happening in Washington, D.C. and being implemented,” Pavilch beamed with excitement. “How [the laws made in Washington] affect [small businesses] more broadly. Having some firsthand experience with that will certainly help drive the right questions.”

The first-hand experience Pavlich is talking about: growing up the daughter of teachers turned small-business owners. “My mom was a professor, and my dad was a public school teacher for 35 years, but they also started these car washes from the ground up,” Pavlich, the former editor of TownHall.com, recalled. 

“We literally broke ground on the first one, and then we ended up building a second one. So it was really interesting to watch that whole process with building the business physically and then hiring employees.” Pavlich is no stranger to working hard. She didn’t just watch her parents hire employees; she worked at the car wash too: “cleaning out the vacuums and shoveling pits when it was freezing outside” it was all a right of passage for the now prime-time host from Arizona. 

Yes, you read that right, freezing cold in Arizona. It’s one of the many misconceptions Pavlich is looking to fix. “I grew up in the Northern part of Arizona, where the elevation is very high, and you get a lot of snow,” Pavlich postulated. “So it would be January, and I was out there with my brother, and we were doing our car wash chores.”

The hard work at the car washes also translated to knowing how to work hard in school, and be aware about the events going on in the world around her, too. She attended the University of Arizona, where she intended to study sports broadcasting. However, Pavlich said it wasn’t until the “Young America Foundation Conference that the light bulb finally went off and I was like, Oh, of course I should be going into political media.”

She’s spent the last 16 years learning the ins and outs of Washington. “I’ve seen a lot of different things happen, and it’s been really exciting to be in the middle of it all from the nation’s capital,” Pavlich said. 

It’s more than just her blue-collar upbringing, which gives Pavlich a unique perspective, but also her love of travel. “I’ve been in 30 countries. I’ve been to five continents and 48 U.S. States,” she noted, calling it a blessing to travel so much. It’s also given her the ability to “meet all kinds of different people, see and hear from different perspectives.” 

Pavlich added, “I think travel is such a great way to educate yourself [because] it’s one thing to read about things and even read two sides of a story, and to read two different perspectives or hear two different perspectives. But when you go visit a town… and just talk to people and understand the way that people live, I think, is a great way to understand humanity and to be a little [more understanding] when it comes to having tough discussions about big issues and why they live their lives the way they do.”

She also believes traveling internationally is: “Super important because it really makes you appreciate, at least for me, that I’m an American and I have the rights that I do and the freedoms that I do and how American policy impacts foreign policy.”

All that foreign policy often trickles down to those in the armed services, a group of Americans Pavlich plans on honoring weekly. Calling it R.E.D. Friday, Pavlich, a two-time New York Times best-selling author, said “RED” is an acronym for, “Remember Everyone Deployed.”

Her plan is to “try and feature videos from our men and women in uniform who are deployed either overseas or they are assigned a post somewhere in the United States, because you have to move all the time for that as well and that’s a sacrifice.” 

Katie Pavlich went on to say her show will feature those in the services, “what their name is, what they’re doing, so they can say hi to their family and just let them know that we appreciate what they’re doing for us every day so that we can be safe and free.”

For those looking to follow in Pavlich’s footsteps, she suggests, “Come to Washington, D.C., put your head down and work hard.” 

But it’s not for the faint of heart. “Everything’s happening so fast,” Pavlich avowed. “I always joke about how one year in D.C. feels like seven because you’re getting so much done even in just a day. There’s so much opportunity and even if you just came here for a couple of years, you could work and go work in your local media outlet as well.”

Pavlich is also on the board of the National Journalism Center through the Young America Foundation. She often also advises youngsters to “Say yes, be factual first, opinion second [because] everyone has an opinion.”

She also encouraged, “You can really cut your teeth on some real journalism. I started my career as an investigative reporter and wrote a book about a scandal that was happening in the Justice Department when I first moved to D.C. So, you know, working hard, saying yes, and staying humble, I think, is a good way to succeed in media.”

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.

FOX, CBS, NBC Sports See Increased Viewership for NFL Wild Card Weekend

BSM Staff
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FOX, CBS, NBC Sports See Increased Viewership for NFL Wild Card Weekend

NFL Wild Card Weekend delivered strong ratings across all three broadcast networks, highlighted by FOX Sports’ Sunday presentation of the San Francisco 49ers’ victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, which became the most-watched telecast of the weekend.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the game averaged 41 million viewers, peaking at 47.76 million from 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. ET. The figure represents a 14% increase over last year’s FOX NFC Wild Card matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles. The game also ranks as FOX’s most-watched Wild Card telecast since 2015 and the most-watched NFL Wild Card game on any network since 2022.

FOX’s Saturday afternoon matchup, featuring the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Carolina Panthers, also drew significant attention. The game averaged 28 million viewers, peaking at just over 36 million, marking the best Saturday Wild Card telecast on any network since 2011. The Saturday broadcast was up 7% from last year’s comparable Chargers-Texans game, which averaged 26 million viewers.

CBS Sports followed with its early Sunday AFC Wild Card game, where the Buffalo Bills topped the Jacksonville Jaguars. The telecast averaged 32.71 million viewers, peaking at more than 41 million. The network noted that this marked the most-watched early-window AFC Wild Card game in CBS history and a 5% increase from last year’s comparable matchup.

NBC Sports closed out the weekend with its Sunday Night Football broadcast, featuring the New England Patriots victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The game averaged 28.9 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched Sunday Night Football telecast since Super Bowl LIX, according to NBC.

Overall, the numbers reflect a strong weekend for NFL viewing, with all three networks reporting growth or maintaining high levels of engagement compared to previous years. The data underscores the NFL’s continued dominance in broadcast television ratings, particularly during the postseason, where marquee matchups draw audiences well into the tens of millions.

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.

Prime Video Shatters Streaming Records With Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers Playoff Matchup

BSM Staff
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Prime Video Shatters Streaming Records With Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers Playoff Matchup

Prime Video shattered streaming records Saturday with its presentation of the Chicago Bears victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Wild Card Playoff, drawing 31.61 million viewers and marking the most-watched game in the platform’s history, according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel measurement.

The figure surpasses the previous streaming high set last Christmas Day, when the Detroit Lions hosted the Minnesota Vikings to a 27.52 million-viewer audience. Compared with last season’s Saturday Wild Card matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, which averaged 22.07 million viewers on Prime Video, this year’s Packers-Bears game represents a 43% increase in viewership.

The game also reached a peak audience of 34.16 million viewers between 9:15 and 9:29 p.m. ET, establishing a new all-time streaming high for the service. Amazon’s internal data confirmed that the game drew the largest number of concurrent viewers ever and set a record for single-day global viewership on Prime Video.

“We could not have asked for a better game on Saturday,” said Jay Marine, head of Prime Video U.S., Global Sports, and Advertising. “Surpassing 31 million viewers and setting an all-time streaming record illustrates our remarkable growth in a relatively short amount of time. We’re thankful for all the fans who tuned in and will continue innovating on their behalf.”

In addition to the game, Prime Video’s NFL Wild Card coverage included a pregame show that averaged 3.05 million viewers, up 50% from last year’s equivalent broadcast ahead of the Steelers-Ravens game. The postgame Nightcap show also delivered record numbers, averaging 4.96 million viewers, a 40% increase over the previous season.

Saturday’s game ranks as the most-watched Saturday Wild Card contest presented in afternoon or prime time since 2020. The Packers-Bears matchup joins other high-performing NFL broadcasts on Prime Video, including last season’s Steelers-Ravens game and the Broncos-Chiefs Christmas Day matchup, which averaged 21.06 million viewers.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

ESPN Chicago Marc Silverman Takes Aim at Chicago Bulls Broadcaster Chuck Swirsky

BSM Staff
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ESPN Chicago Marc Silverman Takes Aim at Chicago Bulls Broadcaster Chuck Swirsky

Chicago sports media personalities are no strangers to passionate opinions, but Marc Silverman’s comments Monday on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle & Silvy took the conversation in a sharply personal direction.

During the program, Silverman addressed Chicago Bulls radio network play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky following recent attention Swirsky received for his criticism of Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson swearing in a victorious locker room speech. What began as a discussion rooted in fandom quickly shifted into a broader critique of Swirsky’s reputation within Chicago media circles, according to Silverman.

Silverman did not mince words when describing his past interactions with Swirsky, alleging a pattern of behavior he believes contradicts Swirsky’s public persona. “He [Swirsky] is a guy that will shake your hand and stab you in the back. He is one of the worst people out there,” said Silverman.

Silverman says following Dan McNeil’s departure from ESPN Chicago in 2009, Swrisky called station management suggesting that they also remove McNeil’s co-hosts of The Afternoon Saloon.

“Swirsky was the first guy to call the bosses telling them to get rid of Jurko [John Jurkovic] and Harry [Teinowitz]. No one will do a better job at that show than me,” explained Silverman. “When we used to put Bill Wennington on and he used to complain to about us to our bosses. That we were putting Wennington on, who was a former NBA champion, over him.”

Silverman emphasized that his criticism was not rooted in professional jealousy or casual disagreement. Instead, he framed it as a matter of personal values and professional respect.

“I finally had enough,” Silverman said, explaining that he had encountered Swirsky regularly at Bulls games and believed those interactions were not genuine. “What a rat. What a bad person.”

He noted that maintaining relationships within the industry matters deeply to him, which is why he said his comments carry weight.

“There are not many people in this business that I don’t like,” Silverman said on the show. “That is one of the worst guys. My wife told me, do not address this. Do not bring this up. He doesn’t deserve your time. I don’t know how to fight without that way. This is one bad, bad, bad person.”

He explained that ignoring behavior he considers unethical runs counter to how he approaches both his career and personal life. Silverman also addressed Swirsky’s long-standing image in Chicago, suggesting that his public reputation as a positive and well-liked figure does not align with Silverman’s experiences.

According to Silverman, that disconnect is what makes the situation particularly troubling.

“Chuck Swirsky has stirred it up in this town,” Silverman said. “But acting like he’s a good person for years. Those, in my opinion, are the worst people in the world.”

Neither the Chicago Bulls nor Swirsky have publicly responded to Silverman’s comments.

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Mike Tomlin Departs Pittsburgh Steelers as Sports Media Rumors Swirl Online

BSM Staff
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Mike Tomlin Departs Pittsburgh Steelers as Sports Media Rumors Swirl Online

Mike Tomlin’s nearly two-decade run on the Pittsburgh Steelers sideline has come to an end. The Steelers announced Tuesday that Tomlin has stepped down as head coach, closing a 19-year tenure that featured consistency rarely seen in professional sports.

The organization described Tomlin’s resume as something that “will likely never be duplicated,” citing his streak without a losing season. Tomlin, who had two years remaining on his contract, informed players of his decision Tuesday during a team meeting at the Steelers’ facility.

The announcement came one day after Pittsburgh’s season ended with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans.

“During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years.”

At 53, Tomlin exits Pittsburgh having built a resume defined by stability and sustained competitiveness. He finishes his Steelers career without a single losing season, a feat unmatched among modern NFL coaches with similar longevity. Earlier this season, Tomlin earned his 200th career victory and tied franchise icon Chuck Noll for ninth on the NFL’s all-time list for regular-season wins.

Tomlin signed a contract extension in 2024 that could have kept him in Pittsburgh through the 2027 season. The deal included a club option that had not yet reached its decision date. Because he stepped away while still under contract, the Steelers will retain his coaching rights if Tomlin returns to an NFL sideline before the deal expires.

That speculation has led many online to suggest Tomlin may trade his coaching whistle for a comfortable seat on network television. As questions swirl about his immediate future, sports media personalities and pundits weighed in on what his next steps could be.

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Maggie Gray Teases Next Chapter of ‘Maggie & Perloff’ Coming Soon

BSM Staff
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Maggie Gray Teases Next Chapter of ‘Maggie & Perloff’ Coming Soon

Maggie Gray, formerly of the Infinity Sports Network, hinted at the next step for her Maggie and Perloff show alongside Andrew Perloff, leaving fans eager for details about the duo’s future.

Gray and Perloff’s run on Infinity Sports concluded last month, marking the final broadcast of the show’s current iteration. The duo was not kept as part of the Westwood One Sports network following the merger of Infinity Sports Network and the BetMGM Network.

As for her Gray’s next stop, she addressed the timing of a formal announcement about the show’s next steps during an appearance on Damon Amendolara’s YouTube channel. “Soon. Very soon, in a form you’re familiar with,” said Gray.

The departure of Gray and Perloff is part of a broader reshuffling after Audacy and Cumulus Media merged Infinity Sports and BetMGM into Westwood One Sports. Nearly all Infinity Sports personalities, including Zach Gelb, Bill Reiter, and Bart Winkler, exited the network’s lineup. When pressed on why Gray couldn’t reveal the details of the next steps, she leaned on her industry experience as reason why.

“Here’s why I can’t say anything. I’m not trying to be coy. I appreciate if people actually want to hear what we have to say. That’s amazing. I’ve been now in this business long enough. I know until the T’s are crossed and the I’s are dotted, you really can’t say it,” she said.

When pressed about a timeline, Gray remained optimistic. “I’m feeling good about it. It will happen very soon, like we’re talking about a matter of days, weeks, not months. We’re Josh Allen at the goal line right now, but anything could happen,” she said.

Several members of the Infinity Sports Network and BetMGM Network who were not retained have already announced projects. Some working for other networks, while others continuing their content independently. For now, fans are left to anticipate the official announcement, which Gray promises is imminent, signaling a new chapter for Maggie and Perloff beyond Infinity Sports.

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.

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