Every vehicle has a hidden story written across time and asphalt. Dealerships used to depend on verbal promises; now credibility lives in data. A single vehicle history report transforms hesitation into understanding. It invites trust between seller and shopper, exposing the truth behind the shine.
Modern buyers turn to Car History Report by VINGurus to learn what the eye can’t see. That file may reveal salvage events, odometer records, or total loss declarations stored within NMVTIS, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. Reliable information ensures every purchasing decision feels confident and fair.
The Power of a Vehicle History Report in Every Purchase
A vehicle history report organizes official data from DMV offices, insurance carriers, and salvage yards. It validates mileage accuracy, records each vehicle repair, and confirms if routine maintenance such as oil changes occurred.
Category
Details Provided
Accident History
Dates, severity, and repair outcomes that may significantly affect safety
Title Status
Checks state motor vehicle databases for salvage or rebuilt indicators
Odometer Reading
Ensures authenticity and identifies rollbacks
Maintenance Records
Lists routine maintenance proving consistent care
Market Value Data
Calculates fair market value and expected resale value
This comprehensive vehicle history clarifies what history report offers—true transparency that helps buyers make an informed decision before payment.
How NMVTIS and History Reports Help Avoid Salvage Traps
The motor vehicle title information system acts as the backbone of honesty. Through NMVTIS, every history report can alert both seller and potential buyers to cars once written off by insurance carriers. If data marks a total loss, it surfaces immediately.
This history helps prevent fraud by exposing flooded engines or hidden frame cracks that would otherwise affect the car’s value. Real-time checks verify whether a vehicle sustained severe damage or simply cosmetic dents. Access to nmvtis data means you avoid purchasing vehicles with titles branded unsafe.
It’s not just caution; it’s empowerment. Full disclosure builds trust and delivers peace of mind for everyone involved in the sales process.
Reading the Odometer and Understanding a Vehicle’s Condition
Few indicators matter more than the odometer reading. A gap between claimed and verified mileage may redefine the car’s worth. Accurate readings prove routine maintenance, reveal wear, and assure future reliability.
Should inconsistencies arise, they will be clear in your history report. With this knowledge in hand, you can either make a competitive or qualified offer or choose to move on. All of this information will complement an in-person inspection and provide a comprehensive assessment of the vehicle condition that protects potential buyers from overpaying.
Providers like Vingurus aggregate nationwide records. Each provider integrates updates from state motor vehicle departments to confirm authenticity. This collaboration keeps the brand reputation of dealerships intact while creating consistent standards of trust.
Why Dealerships and Brands Rely on Vehicle History Transparency
Transparency sells. Providers offer verified reports that reshape the car-buying experience. Honest dealerships showcase data before a test drive begins. That openness draws potential buyers, accelerates conversions, and strengthens the brand relationship.
The advantages include:
Proof of reliability through nmvtis-linked verification.
Ability to negotiate based on documented pricing accuracy.
Confidence that the car’s past matches current condition.
A stronger resale value supported by trustworthy records.
Assurance that transparency equals long-term loyalty.
When vehicle history reports accompany every listing, doubt fades. Data replaces persuasion, and the transaction becomes an informed partnership rather than a gamble.
Conclusion
A vehicle history report is essential for every used vehicle transaction. It bridges the gap between expectation and reality, showing how care, accidents, or neglect shape longevity. Integrated systems like NMVTIS, motor vehicle title information, and state-verified archives guarantee authenticity. They track the number of previous owners, vehicle repair frequency, and the odometer reading that defines trust.
In a marketplace fueled by instant access, dealerships that value honesty lead the way. The vehicle’s history becomes its resume, the proof of value and integrity. Understanding that record is the key to making a smart decision built on knowledge rather than chance.
FAQ
1. How does NMVTIS data protect buyers from hidden damage? It pulls national motor vehicle title information directly from dmv, insurers, and salvage yards to expose any past total loss or flood.
2. Can a vehicle history report improve the sales process for dealerships? Yes. Transparency enhances credibility, shortens negotiation time, and encourages repeat clients.
3. What if a report shows severe damage but recent repairs? Review the inspection and vehicle repair records. Quality restoration can restore confidence and resale value.
4. Do routine maintenance and oil changes really matter? They prove consistent care and stability. Regular service records positively affect the car’s value over time.
5. Why should I trust providers like AutoCheck or Carfax? Because each connects with official state motor vehicle systems and nmvtis, ensuring verified accuracy unmatched by casual databases.
Cumulus Media has finalized a new contract extension with Lauren O’Neil, keeping the longtime host in middays at Chicago Alternative outlet Q101.
O’Neil, a familiar voice to Chicago listeners for more than a decade, first joined WKQX in July 2012 during the station’s run on 87.7 FM. Since then, she has become one of the brand’s most consistent and recognizable personalities, anchoring the midday shift for nearly her entire tenure.
She briefly moved to afternoons from 2021 to 2022, but ultimately returned to middays, where she has maintained one of the station’s strongest listener connections.
While the length of the extension was not disclosed, the move reinforces Cumulus Media’s commitment to stability at a station that has gone through multiple iterations over the last decade..
Before arriving in Chicago, O’Neil built an extensive resume across several markets. She launched her career at the University of Florida’s Rock 104 in Gainesville, where she developed her on-air presence and production skills. From there, she moved to Tampa to join iHeartMedia’s 98 Rock, spending seven years with the station. During her run, she co-hosted both mornings and afternoons while also voice-tracking for several other stations.
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.
In the high-stakes world of software development, securing the right tech talent is the difference between leading the market and lagging behind. When your in house team needs specialized skills, waiting for the traditional hiring process is simply not an option. That’s why choosing a top it staff augmentation company has become a pivotal strategic move for successful digital transformation.
But which firms truly stand out? Navigating the multitude of outsourcing companies and staffing agency options can be a challenge. We have curated a list of the top 7 IT staff augmentation company providers that consistently deliver excellence, demonstrating a strong track record and unparalleled expertise.
Decoding the Criteria for a Top IT Staff Augmentation Company
Before diving into the list, it’s essential to understand the criteria that define an elite augmentation company. It goes beyond simply filling open roles. A premier staff augmentation company offers true staff augmentation solutions that align with your long-term business goals.
A top it staff augmentation company must provide:
Global Access: Entry to a vast pool of software engineers and top talent.
Specialized Depth: Proven skills in niche areas like Data Science, Machine Learning, and Data Engineering.
Process Mastery: Expertise in project management and seamless integration into your existing teams.
Now, let’s explore the leaders who exemplify these qualities in the realm of IT staff augmentation services.
The Top 7 IT Staff Augmentation Company List
1. Innowise Group: A Global Leader in Team Augmentation
Innowise stands out as a global leader in the software development space, offering extensive IT staff augmentation services. Their deep expertise in custom software development and mobile development makes them a go-to provider for complex projects.
They focus heavily on quality and providing dedicated teams that integrate quickly. Innowise consistently demonstrates a strong track record across various industries, successfully implementing solutions ranging from enterprise custom software to consumer-facing mobile app technology. Their success stories prove that this IT staff augmentation company truly enables companies to focus on their core business while they handle the talent needs.
2. Toptal: Access to Top Tier Talent
Toptal has carved a niche as an elite staffing agency specializing in placing the top 3% of software engineers and designers. While their staff augmentation model may come at a premium, clients gain immediate top talent ready to tackle highly complex projects. Their rigorous screening process ensures you receive truly skilled professionals with validated technical expertise.
3. EPAM Systems: Scale and Breadth of Software Development
EPAM is a massive staff augmentation company and IT consulting firm, offering scale that few can match. Their augmentation services are geared toward large enterprises seeking widespread digital transformation across vast development teams. Their strength lies in their ability to provide resources across virtually every cutting edge technologies stack.
4. BairesDev: Latin America’s Augmentation Company Giant
BairesDev focuses on Latin America, offering competitive it staff augmentation services that benefit from strong time zone alignment with North America. They offer strong support for custom software development, particularly mobile development, allowing clients to quickly fill skill gaps with cost-effective resources. Their commitment to client satisfaction contributes to their excellent track record.
5. ScienceSoft: Focus on Custom Software and Quality
ScienceSoft is known for its comprehensive approach to software development and software product development. Their staff augmentation offerings focus on high quality, tailored solutions particularly in fields like Data Science and intricate mobile app architecture. They aim to provide resources that deliver innovative solutions rather than just bodies.
6. ValueCoders: Delivering Staff Augmentation Services from India
ValueCoders is a seasoned staffing agency providing affordable it staff augmentation services from India. They offer skilled software engineers focused on web and mobile app projects. Their primary value lies in maximizing client operational efficiency and cost effectiveness for large, long-term engagements.
7. GlobalLogic: Expertise in Digital Transformation
GlobalLogic specializes in digital transformation and product engineering services. Their staff augmentation relies on strong methodological expertise, providing highly coordinated dedicated teams that integrate well with enterprise project requirements. They are adept at handling UI UX design elements alongside heavy software development needs.
Making the Right Choice
Selecting the right staff augmentation company is a decision that affects your budget, your timeline, and your internal culture. The best providers offer transparent staff augmentation services and strong guarantees.
What to Demand from Your Staff Augmentation Partner
When evaluating providers on this list or any other staff augmentation providers, ensure they can demonstrate expertise in the following key areas:
Data Security protocols
Experience with UI UX and user-centric design
A clear process for integration with your existing team
The ability to deploy pre vetted developers swiftly
The Strategic Value of IT Staff Augmentation
Engaging in it staff augmentation should not be seen as a temporary patch, but as a long-term strategy to ensure access to essential tech talent. It effectively closes talent gaps and enables you to scale up development teams for urgent software development needs without taking on permanent overhead. This flexibility is vital for any company pursuing aggressive digital transformation.
Conclusion: Powering Your Software Development Future
The top IT staff augmentation company contenders listed here represent the pinnacle of service delivery, expertise, and reliability in the market today. Whether your goal is a new mobile app, an overhaul of your enterprise custom software, or strategic integration of machine learning into your business operations, the correct staff augmentation partner is essential.
YouTube held its grip on the top spot in Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge for October, despite strong gains from sports-heavy broadcasters and streamers. The platform accounted for 12.9% of all TV viewing for the month, rising 4% from September as kids and teens logged more screen time during fall school breaks.
Meanwhile, traditional media companies saw a notable lift as the NFL, MLB postseason and a broader broadcast schedule pushed viewership across multiple platforms. Even with that momentum, no distributor was able to surpass YouTube’s lead.
Disney finished second with 11.4% of total TV time after posting the largest share increase of any major distributor. The company gained 0.7 share points as overall viewing rose 7% month over month. Growth was balanced across its linear and streaming properties. ESPN and ABC stations each climbed 9%, while Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ combined for a 7% bump. ABC’s broadcast footprint and Disney’s streaming lineup were the biggest drivers, each adding 0.3 points to the company’s total share.
NBCUniversal followed at 8.6%, holding third place without major month-to-month volatility.
Fox secured fourth place with 8.4%, fueled almost entirely by baseball. Viewership on FS1 surged 285% during the American League Championship Series, contributing 0.4 of Fox’s 0.5 share-point increase. Local Fox affiliates also climbed 12% behind the World Series’ opening games, college football’s Big Noon Saturday and the network’s NFL coverage.
Paramount rounded out the top five at 8.2% of TV usage. CBS affiliates jumped 13% behind a full NFL schedule, while Paramount+ grew 8.3%. NFL games were CBS’ three most-watched programs in October, but the network also delivered the top three non-sports programs across broadcast with “Tracker,” “60 Minutes” and “Matlock.”
Netflix landed in sixth place with 8% of viewing time. Warner Bros. Discovery followed at 5.6%, up 0.2 points on the month. Much of that boost came from the MLB postseason as TBS logged a 93% increase during its exclusive coverage of the Dodgers–Brewers National League Championship Series.
Further down the rankings, Amazon posted 3.8%, The Roku Channel reached 2.8%, and Scripps followed at 1.9%. Weigel Broadcasting drew 1.4%, Hallmark finished at 1%, A+E Networks at 0.9% and AMC Networks at 0.7%.
Hallmark recorded one of the month’s standout performances, with viewership rising 11% thanks to increased movie consumption. The jump added 0.1 share point and pushed the network to No. 12 overall.
Across categories, broadcast television accounted for 22.9% of total viewing in October. Cable followed closely at 22.2%, while streaming remained dominant at 45.7%.
Nielsen Media Distributor Gauge Oct 2025 (Courtesy: Nielsen)
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Jordon Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of longtime NFL coach Bill Belichick, says she plans to sue sports journalist Pablo Torre after a string of stories she claims portrayed her unfairly throughout the year. Hudson announced her intentions Sunday in an Instagram post.
Although brief, the caption carried a direct message: “P.S. I’m suing you Pablo Torre,” she wrote, finishing with a heart-hands emoji.
She did not outline specific allegations, but the photo accompanying the post offered hints. Hudson wore a necklace reading “banned” and held an “All Access” credential with her name on it — a reference to one of Torre’s most circulated reports.
In May, Torre reported on Pablo Torre Finds Out that Hudson had been barred from the University of North Carolina football facility, where Belichick now works as head coach. He cited two sources inside the athletic department who claimed administrators decided Hudson was no longer allowed in the football building or on the practice field.
“Don’t think you’ll be hearing much from Jordon moving forward,” one source told him, according to the report.
The UNC segment was one of several Torre stories that drew widespread attention. Particularly as Belichick’s relationship with Hudson became more visible following his departure from the New England Patriots. Torre also reported on a hot mic exchange between Hudson and Belichick in which the two appeared to criticize staffers on COACH, the football strategy show featuring the former Patriots coach.
In the audio, Hudson questioned how the production team operated. “I don’t know how they have four full-time graphics people,” she said. Belichick responded, “They can’t do sh*t.” Hudson then added that she could replicate the graphics work quickly. “‘If somebody puts on a clock, I could create this in five minutes,’” she said. “‘Would you give me two grand to do that?’”
Torre has stood by his reporting and responded to Hudson publicly on Sunday.
In a post on X, Torre wrote, “I assume this means you’re declining my invitation to be a guest on Pablo Torre Finds Out? Either way, I look forward to hearing from you!” He also reposted last month’s clip containing the hot mic exchange.
The tension between Torre and Hudson surfaced again in a May interview on The Dan Patrick Show, when Torre said someone close to the couple described Hudson as “the worst person” they had ever worked with.
Hudson did not indicate when she plans to file her lawsuit or what specific claims it may include. Torre has not issued further comment beyond his social media posts. For now, the dispute remains public, with both sides using their platforms as the conflict escalates.
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The Broadcasters Foundation of America has announced it will honor Versant CEO Mark Lazarus with its 2026 Golden Mic Award.
The BFOA Golden Mic Award is presented annually to an individual for their excellence in and commitment to broadcasting, and their ongoing service to the community at large.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Golden Mic Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America, an organization that stands at the heart of our industry’s values – service, compassion, and community,” said Lazarus. “Broadcasting has always been about connecting people, and the Foundation’s work reminds us of the profound responsibility and privilege we have to support one another, especially in times of need.”
“A trailblazer in broadcasting, Mark is a highly respected television executive known for his leadership and ability to carve out innovative paths to success, including forming strong bonds with partners,” added Broadcasters Foundation Chair Scott Herman. “We are delighted to recognize his many contributions to broadcasting with the 2026 Golden Mic Award.”
The Versant CEO will be given the award on at the foundation’s 2026 Gala, scheduled for Monday, March 9th at the Plaza Hotel in New York.
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ESPN 97.5 FM said its over-the-air signal was “hacked” Sunday afternoon after unexpected and unauthorized audio began playing during the station’s NFL coverage. The disruption occurred during the broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles–Dallas Cowboys game.
Shortly after the game’s start, the station’s feed was overtaken by a loop consisting of fake Emergency Alert System (EAS) tones, a country music track, and a promotional message encouraging listeners at the time to follow a set of social media accounts.
Those accounts, according to the station, were deactivated shortly after the incident.
The station acknowledged the breach at 4:34 p.m. in a statement posted to social media, writing that audio aired “within the last hour that did not come from their studios,” prompting concern from listeners who quickly alerted station personnel.
It remains unclear how long the audio loop continued before regular programming resumed. Morning show hosts John Granato and Lance Zierlein read a prepared statement Monday morning addressing the matter.
“Our radio station was a victim of a cyber attack that put racist and unfortunate audio on our air that in no way represents our company, the radio station, or our employees,” read Granato. “It’s unfortunate that bad actors and evil people choose these actions. Whether it was senseless and random or intended and personal. we don’t want to give this incident or violators the attention they’re seeking. We’ll be working to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and appreciate everyone’s understanding.”
ESPN 97.5 did not identify a specific cause or suspect. A listener posted the audio via their personal Facebook page. Caution: Language may not be suitable for work.
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This is my first column in three weeks. Being fully transparent, I needed a break from the noise. I enjoy writing about the media business, keeping readers informed, and giving people something to think about, but there’s been a lot of hot air circulating lately. Sometimes that can be fun but it can also be exhausting. If I have nothing useful to say about a pointless beef between two parties, I’d rather say nothing.
Today, brands and people are fixated on generating attention. Will the next thing I talk about boost my radio or TV ratings? Is it going to increase my downloads or views? How much will it get shared on social media? It becomes a frequent case of chasing numbers to validate success.
Shows and talent with a bad plan and poor execution can get bailed out by one meter. Meanwhile others can deliver compelling content and perfect execution and have little to show for it thanks to a measurement system that has more holes in it than the black BMW sedan Tupac was riding in on September 7th when he was shot and killed in Las Vegas.
That can leave you questioning if what you do actually matters and is important. Do talent really care about these sensationalized battles or is it strictly ‘good for business’? Is the validation of their work tied strictly to ratings or revenue success? What about if their words motivated someone to want to get in the business or more importantly, saved someone’s life. Would that not count if it didn’t deliver a number or dollar?
In the past week alone, Stephen A. Smith-Drake Maye-Cam Newton-Dave Portnoy, Stephen A. Smith-Jason Whitlock, Clay Travis-Pablo Torre-Riley Gaines, Candace Owens-Turning Point USA, Pat McAfee-Sports Media pundits, and Megyn Kelly-Tucker Carlson-Mark Levin-Ben Shapiro-Nick Fuentes were all been involved in a series of drama-fueled storylines. I don’t blame any of them for leaning into the battles because they produce a lot of attention. Each of those hosts are expected to create interest, and they’re doing their jobs by raising the volume.
But in the grand scheme of what matters, some of these conversations are just hot air. I enjoy a strong back and forth between notable people just as much as anyone, but is that all that matters today? Is the only thing worthy of stopping us in our tracks a back and forth spat between two or three people?
I’m more interested in understanding what creators and businesses are doing to grow revenue. How brands are changing their strategic approach to grow their audience. What they’re doing to better understand how to reach more people in the spaces where they consume content. What companies plan to do differently in 2026 and 2027 to reverse the economic slide. And how the industry as a whole is going to address AI, ratings measurement issues, finding/developing new stars and ideas, AM radio’s future, and other critical matters.
I want to explore subjects that make people think. I want to talk to broadcasters to learn what makes them tick, how they view certain issues facing the industry, and during the course of those conversations, stumble into areas that open new doors. I’m planning to start that process in January when I relaunch ‘The Jason Barrett Podcast’.
It’s very easy to ask a question designed to produce a reaction, push it across social media, and watch it take off. But then I’d have to ask myself ‘is this what we’re about? Is this what we want to be known for? The answer to those questions is no. I’ve told this to programmers before, I can walk into a studio, grab the mic, passionately declare the NFL dead and label Soccer the new #1 sport in America, and within seconds I’d have full phone lines, texts and tweets. That doesn’t make it a smart, accurate or great idea. It just suggests that I know how to generate reaction and attention.
And therein lies the issue.
Some of the subjects we tackle here will never drive a large group of people to read us. They’re designed to connect with a specific group of decision makers and media professionals. It’s why I’ve said from day one, I’d rather reach 50 Bob Pittman’s or Bob Iger’s than 5,000 fans. Some outlets chase traffic and social shares, and if that works for them, awesome. That’s not our approach though.
I’d rather educate, celebrate and challenge the industry by doing quality journalism with experienced media writers, hosting beneficial events, providing recognition through our Top 20’s and Meet the Leaders series, and address issues, mistakes and unethical matters to improve the industry and its people.
Our approach is appreciated by many professionals. We see it in the readership we generate on a daily basis. However, it’s harder to earn marketing support for it. Those in charge of advertising budgets want maximum attention for their client’s brands or messages and many of the talent I mentioned earlier are perfect for them because they attract millions of ears and eyeballs.
Which brings us full circle. If media dollars are going to depend on the maximum amount of eyes and ears, get ready to hear a lot more noise. Original stories, reporting and issues that depend on substance may not produce the same level of attention, but I promise you, they matter and leave a lasting impression.
The Country Music Awards
The presentation of the CMA’s was fantastic. Lainey Wilson as host was the perfect selection (her opening medley was spectacular). The performances by Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Ella Langley, and Stephen Wilson Jr. (Stand by Me was incredible) were outstanding. The stage, lighting, production and banter between presenters were excellent.
Yet some things didn’t feel right.
Leanne Morgan and Lainey Wilson onstage at the CMA Awards; photo credit: Denny Simmons/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown and Luke Bryan not being there raised eyebrows. The push of The Red Clay Strays over more accomplished acts felt orchestrated and off. Then came closing the show with BigXthaPlug and Luke Combs (wrong spot in the lineup).
Overall, I enjoyed the show. Like anything though, there’s always room for improvement.
The KROQ Variety Story
I’m no expert on KROQ in Los Angeles. I’ve kept up on news involving the station over the years, and used to listen occasionally to Kevin and Bean (great show). I remember the Los Angeles rock station going through challenges 5-6 years ago, so to see the brand thriving again is great. I hope it continues. Between the return of Kevin Ryder and the success of the morning show it sounds like Kevin Weatherly has recaptured the magic.
I’m all for highlighting radio success but I thought the Variety piece read like a one-sided PR story. KROQ’s growth should be recognized but little was said about the competitive battle in L.A. between KROQ, KLOS and ALT 98.7. KLOS had a big ratings book in July and ALT ranked higher with 6+ according to the article. Is the station’s turnaround a case of panelist changes or are there other metrics and moves worth highlighting? If the station wasn’t as strong 1-2 years ago as it is now, what changed? Is it as simple as adjusting the playlist and re-hiring Kevin Ryder or are there other factors? The morning show soaring from 14th to 2nd warranted much more attention. That’s a great story.
YouTube screenshot of Kevin Ryder chatting with Variety’s Michael Schneider in April 2026
The Variety piece also never mentioned that Nicole Alvarez left KROQ in August. She even wrote a scathing piece about her exit in The Hollywood Reporter. It also didn’t feature any input from Mike Kaplan or others who worked at the station previously though plenty of shots were fired at them. The best part was Kevin Weatherly’s insight on music adjustments and Kevin Ryder’s return and how the brand’s ratings changed upon his arrival. That was supported in the piece by the data chart shown.
I have no dog in the fight. As I said before, the KROQ crew deserve a ton of credit for turning things around. I love seeing radio brands earn recognition for good work. I’d just have liked to see more balance and a little more ground covered by Variety. KROQ is an important brand in an important market. There was a lot more worth diving into to tell a complete story.
AI Music and the Suno Effect
At the 2025 BSM Summit in Chicago, I showed how AI could create a song about the Shadeur Sanders-NFL Draft night saga. I encouraged professionals to use new tools to elevate their on-air creativity. While my example was solid, I barely had scratched the surface of what Suno can do.
Xania Monet, Breaking Rust and The Velvet Sundown are AI artists that have created buzz and impact. Real artists may hate it, but they’re not in danger as much as mid-level studio producers. Similar to radio, great talent is irreplaceable. You also can’t do live remotes/concerts, sell merchandise and endorsements without people. But AI music isn’t going away. My hope is that YouTube, Spotify and social media platforms will label it better, and Billboard’s charts will separate it so it’s less confusing.
Being a former musician, I wondered how advanced Suno can get. I’m no expert but I spent time recently taking original songs that were 30+ years old, and re-creating them with modern sounds. I also took lyrics and melodies I wrote that hadn’t yet been put to music, and turned them into completed songs. I even wrote a few pieces in the vein of current artists, utilizing ChatGPT to determine the right keywords for Genre, Style, Mood, Tempo, Voices, Instrumentation, and Mastering. There were some hiccups in the creation process, but the final results were impressive, and they were done within seconds.
The more detail you provide Suno, the better the final product is. I’ve produced songs in the vein of Rap Rock, Country, Industrial Rock, Alternative and Pop Rock. The one above is an original Country-folk rock ballad that had lyrics and a melody but no prior musical arrangement. This was created within seconds.
I’m not starting a band or chasing a record deal, but some upcoming artist is going to create future hits using Suno or other AI technology such as Klay. Record labels are investing millions for a reason, it’s a gamechanger. Many will push back but if history has taught us anything, technology usually prevails. The only question is ‘how will it be used to make music better in future years?’
Quick Hits
The final installment of Meet the Leaders drops this Wednesday. The series created in partnership with Point to Point Marketing has been excellent. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to check it out. If not, go here. For the final feature, we’re excited to have Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson participating. His conversation with John Mamola should be a must-read.
Pete Mundo‘s column on Friday about AM Radio created a stir. Some weren’t thrilled with his opinion, some texted to express their thanks for the issue being raised. I don’t tell our writers what to write about but I do ask them to be honest, topical, factual and accessible. They also know that once we publish an article, the content isn’t being changed unless it’s to correct a mistake. I realize that this is a sensitive topic, but there are thousands working at AM radio stations who want answers. Congress has had this issue on their radar for nearly 3 years thanks to the NAB. It’s time they treated it with some urgency. Jobs and the health of an industry are at stake.
On behalf of everyone, if the news cycle could exist without the use of the word felching that’d be great. IYKYK.
Congrats to Dave Ramsey and the entire Ramsey team on 100 million streams, listeners and viewers. Props to Spotify on marketing that news in a New York City billboard.
Speaking of marketing, I was in a few New York City taxi’s last week and it was great to see Newsmax and 77WABC prominently displayed on the in-car video screen that plays for passengers. Smart non-traditional marketing that keeps both brands top of mind. Most importantly, it’s just great to see two valuable brands out there promoting themselves. TV and radio needs more of that.
If you want to read a great piece on leadership and turning around an organization, check out this article by the San Francisco Standard. It examines how Joe Lacob and Peter Guber turned the Golden State Warriors into a world class franchise. There’s some great management lessons for media executives in the article. I was in the Bay Area for Lacob and Guber’s early years. They pushed so many of the right buttons while showing what passionate, intelligent, and invested leadership looks like.
Candace Owens put out a very troubling tweet the other day. She claimed she received intelligence from a highly placed source in the French government that authorization was given to have her assassinated. If true, our government needs to step in to make sure she’s protected and France understands there will be serious consequences if any American media professional is harmed. We can’t have free speech and those who use it being gunned down for using their voice.
It’s not every day that you learn of a radio station’s signal being hacked. That apparently happened on Sunday in Houston. ESPN 97.5shared on X that audio aired on its airwaves that didn’t come from the radio station.
There are a few new songs worth checking out. Shinedown has another hit with Searchlight. Lakeview is back with Sorry, which is great. Rob Thomas‘ Ghost immediately strikes a chord, and Bad Omens‘ Left For Good already has over a million views in just 5 days.
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.
Welcome to the shortest workweek of the calendar year: the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s the lone week when many talents in sports radio skip using paid vacation because the days off are already built in. More people are on the roads, more families are in the car, and sports dominate television.
It’s also a time where nearly every full-time sports radio personality finds themselves sitting at the table instead of behind a microphone
For all the talk about how the industry can evolve for a new generation, this week is the perfect opportunity to build those bridges. Yet many programmers look at the holiday meter counts and choose the easy path with syndication or best-of programming. How can sports radio claim it’s hard to find tomorrow’s talent when the opportunity sits right in front of us?
No one prefers to work on a holiday weekend, but plenty of people itching to enter the business do. Programmers and talent across the country often recall the moment they first wanted to crack the mic. Today, opportunities are more limited than ever because of budget cuts and syndication deals, which makes these holiday windows even more valuable.
Find Your Future
That doesn’t mean the future of your station should be denied a shot. Podcasting and digital media may have pulled some attention away from traditional radio, but what better time to re-ignite passion for broadcasting than a week already built for experimentation?
The part-time producer holding a weekend shift or the staffer logging hours on play-by-play broadcasts has dreams far beyond their current schedule. Have they told you? If not, ask yourself why.
If they have, this week is their moment. Create it for them.
Will they be the perfect fill-in for your top-rated morning show? Maybe, or maybe not. But when do you want to find out if they have a shot to be? The easy answer for most programmers is the holiday book, a throwaway for most sports radio stations as it typically doesn’t matter for the revenue line.
Wouldn’t you rather test a new voice during Thanksgiving week than hand them multiple days or weeks later without knowing what they can do? Full-time hosts stack their vacation time for the holiday book because it doesn’t affect their bonuses, even with the NFL in the stretch run.
If the kids are out for Christmas or New Year’s break, most marquee sports radio hosts are too.
Programmers should be thankful for the Thanksgiving two-day opportunity to plan for later this year and beyond.
Get Creative
Gather your targets and craft your pairings like a fantasy radio competition. There are no limits to this. Get creative.
Pair that part-time producer you’ve noticed with a full-time producer begging for more on-air reps. Look at the local podcast scene and identify who knows your teams and audience. A simple DM or asking your producers how to reach someone could open the door to meaningful cross-promotion.
Sports writers and columnists guest on radio shows every week. They know the rhythm, understand the audience, and appreciate the validation that radio exposure brings. Plus, they could be a full time talent in the station’s future.
Don’t worry about budget. It’s a holiday. A small gift card from a client can go a long way for someone outside your building. Concert tickets are often easy to secure. Stations have plenty of giveaways. Use them.
The job isn’t over for programmers. Listen and provide real-time feedback. You don’t need to monitor every second, but thoughtful coaching shows an investment in their future — and the station’s. That same care is what allows them to share their future with you.
That’s how I got my start in sports radio, and it’s why I’m still here nearly two decades later. I’m living proof that, when given a shot, amazing things can happen. It’s something I’m forever thankful for.
Useful Opportunity
Sports radio embraces this week as an industry built on connection. It brings families together through the love of sports. It provides an escape during traffic jams and last-minute runs for cranberry sauce. A week where bickering in the car on Black Friday gives way to a laugh about the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Live, local, and connected — everything sports radio must continue to be, no matter who sits behind the microphone.
If sports radio truly wants to evolve, it can’t wait for perfect conditions or perfect timing. The future is built one rep at a time, one show at a time, one unexpected voice at a time. This Thanksgiving week, give your next star the runway. Give your station the lift.
Most of all, give your audience the live, local connection they deserve. That is how the format grows — and how it survives. Be thankful for the opportunity presented.
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In his younger days, McGraw Milhaven would lie in bed, listening to the dulcet tones of Larry King and Jim Bohannon in late hours. He could never have dreamed of being able to host a nationally syndicated radio show in the same timeslot as the venerable talk radio hosts.
But then, Westwood One came calling with an offer he couldn’t refuse: taking over America at Night.
Despite loving his job as morning show host and Program Director at St. Louis’ The Big 550 KTRS, McGraw Milhaven couldn’t say no to the opportunity.
On December 1st, Milhaven will take over the show that has been hosted by Rich Valdes since the death of Bohannon in 2022.
He couldn’t hide his anticipation for the move.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty excited,” Milhaven said. “If somebody had told me that one day you’ll be hosting that show, I would have told you I have a better chance of going to the planet Neptune than actually hosting this show. It’s a wonderful opportunity, but it also with that comes a responsibility. You’re on 256 radio stations. Radio is a wonderful, wonderful medium, and you want to respect the medium. So you want to try and do it right out of the gate. So while there’s a lot of excitement, there’s a lot of, you know, work to be done to make sure it’s done right.”
Many news/talk radio hosts aspire to host a nationally syndicated show. Those hopes and dreams are often accompanied by the idea that it needs to happen as soon as possible in one’s career.
But McGraw Milhaven is a news/talk radio lifer, with more than 30 years in the medium. Surprisingly, he’s thankful that this opportunity didn’t pop up earlier in his career.
“I don’t think I could have done this show when I was 25,” he admitted. “It’s the difference between somebody going to an open mic night for the first time and somebody who’s been a 20-year comedian. You’ve taken the slings and the arrows, you’ve done the bad shows, you’ve been fired, you’ve come back, you’ve reinvented yourself, you’ve watched the news, you followed the news, and you’re able to take criticism better. You’re able to understand the constructive criticism better.
“So the fact that I’m a little older, I’m a lot more confident in how to do it, and I know how to do it, and I know what good radio is, and I know what good conversation is, and I can trust my instincts,” Milhaven continued. “That’s probably the biggest thing going is that when you’re younger, I don’t necessarily think you trust your instincts because you’re trying to please everybody else. But as I’ve listened to this show, I know this show, and I’m going to trust my instincts. Because my instincts are that America at Night is a place where America is going to go to have a conversation before they go to bed.”
America at Night with McGraw Milhaven won’t be just another show focused on conservative politics, the new host says.
“It’s not going to be agenda-driven one way or the other,” he said of the new program. “It’s just going to be a place where one can expect interesting conversations all night long. I want news makers to feel like they’ll be asked the questions and then I’ll shut up and let them answer it. I want them to feel like they have a place to tell their story. They don’t have 30 seconds to get a sound bite in. But a greater truth, a greater understanding, give the nuance of a story so that the audience has a better understanding of the story. They might not agree with the guest, they might disagree with the guests, they might not understand it, but at least they’ll come away understanding where the guest is coming from.”
He added that there’s a method to his madness.
“I think talk radio at night is that it’s best when you take the audience to places they’ve never been,” Milhaven said. “Whether it’s a World War I battlefield, Pearl Harbor, or New York City on 9/11, I want storytellers. I want book authors, historians, experts, to take the audience to places they’ve never been every night. There are plenty of places where the audience can go to listen to right-wing talk. That’s not to say I won’t have conservatives talking … We’re going to have all of those things, but we’re going to have the whole spectrum of it. We’re not going to throw tomatoes at each other. It’s not going to be bombastic.
“We’re going to challenge the guests, liberals and conservatives. And we’re going to have conversations with them, just like you would at a bar, just like you would at a kitchen table or dining room table with your friends. There’s going to be a wide spectrum of guests, a wide spectrum of topics and a wide spectrum of opinions.”
McGraw Milhaven is adding the Westwood One show to his plate. He isn’t leaving his role at The Big 550 KTRS, where he’ll continue to host morning drive. Obviously, it’s going to be a change, but it’s one he looks forward to tackling.
“I’ll figure it out,” he shared. “KTRS has been overwhelmingly supportive. Westwood One has been overwhelmingly supportive. And the producers who are at Westwood One are great. I’ll lean on them, and my producers at KTRS are great. We’ll figure it out. I’m not too worried about it,” he said with a laugh before adding, “famous last words.”
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.
