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Toast to 10: Reflecting on ‘The Barrett Bash’ and the ‘2025 BNM Summit’

Jason Barrett
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Toast to 10: Reflecting on ‘The Barrett Bash’ and the ‘2025 BNM Summit’

The Toast to 10 series presented by Premiere Networks, is a month-long series looking back on 10 years of Barrett Media. Throughout the month, you’ll hear from those who’ve shaped the company, managed and created the content, read the site, and partnered with the brand between 2015-2025 to share how they’ve seen it play a role in covering the media industry and educating, celebrating, and challenging the business.

The 2025 BNM Summit is in the books. So too is our 10-year celebration party, The Barrett Bash. A huge thank you to all who attended and every partner who supported last week’s events. None of what we do is possible without their support. This week’s column is reflecting on last week, sharing key takeaways, listing a few concerns, and raising a few questions. If you care about moving the business forward, I’d love to hear your feedback.

The 2025 BNM Summit

Our third news conference was an overall success. Thank you to Newsmax for serving as our presenting sponsor. Over 200 registered, including a strong number of executives, market managers, programmers, and talent. The content was strong, the networking was valuable, and the Ailey Theater and Park Central Hotel served as great venues. The BFOA After Party on Wednesday night was especially great.

Our biggest challenge is keeping folks in the room for longer than a few hours. Attendees at our sports summit’s stay for most of the show. News folks are in and out more. It’s been that way in Nashville, Washington D.C., and New York City.

When an event ends, we are physically and mentally exhausted. We’ll take a few days to recharge, and then examine what worked, what didn’t, and if it’s worth continuing. We run events to unite formats, and tackle key issues with industry professionals. Many media brands and people are invited, most are easy to work with, some are not. We strive to earn enough sponsorship support to cover expenses and justify the time invested in it.

I don’t want to host conferences that aren’t important and valuable. If we can’t do it right, I’d rather not do it. For that reason, we don’t do pay-for-play sessions. I respect our audience’s time and won’t have them sit through things that only serve us and a paying client. We’re likely leaving dollars on the table by doing that but I can’t see how that makes the Summit better.

I do plan to shorten the show in the future to one day. Day 2 is structured well but some folks head home after day 1 to avoid missing too much work. Having ‘The Barrett Bash’ this year made day 2 more important but that doesn’t happen all the time. Once we recharge, we’ll evaluate what makes the most sense for 2026 including where to host it. I have a few ideas but welcome feedback from our attendees and partners.

The Barrett Bash

When Stephanie Eads and I discussed doing this in March, we thought it’d be a hit. It delivered as expected. Thank you to Premiere Networks, 77WABC, and Core Image Studio for supporting the Bash. Over 300 people attended the event including John Catsimatidis, Kelli Turner, Erik Hellum, Julie Talbott, Chris Oliviero, Guy Benson, Jim Kerr, Mark Simone, Angela Yee, Damon Amendolara, and many other executives, talent, agents, program directors, and market managers. Special appearances were made by WWE superstars Chelsea Green and Maxxine Dupri and recording artist Twinnie. All three ladies were awesome. If you’re a Country radio PD, check out Twinnie’s music. She’s got a great sound. My thanks to Chris Legentil, Nick Khan, Griffin Hess, and the WWE team. It’s cool having support from a brand I’ve loved for over four decades.

There were things we could’ve done better including a few giveaways and lowering the music when I spoke. Overall though, it was a great night. I almost had a heart attack 90-minutes before the show. Over 2 hours of music was saved on a flash drive and fell out of my pocket into a Taxi. Fortunately, Plan B worked out thanks to the tech team at 1604 Broadway. Thanks guys.

I appreciated the kind words said on stage by Mike McVay, Heather Cohen, Jim and Dawn Cutler, Scott Sutherland, Tim Bronsil, Demetri Ravanos, Andy Drake, and Garrett Searight. I knew each of them were speaking but had no idea what they’d say. I’m not one to seek credit for my work or sacrifices. It is nice to know though that my contributions have made a positive impression on some.

Stephanie Eads gave a great speech to start the show, and was more comfortable than she expected to be. I knew she was going to share how our story resembles Bon Jovi’s ‘Living on a Prayer’ because I was Tommy working on the docks (the downstairs office) and she was Gina, working in the diner all day when this journey began. What I didn’t know is that she was going to have Dylan say a few words and share how I traded in stocks, paid our rent 6-months in advance, reluctantly accepted food stamps, and locked myself in a basement for a year, determined to make this work to take care of our family.

I heard a few gasps and saw a few jaws drop when they heard her remarks. It’s all true. Barrett Media exists today because we made it through some very challenging times. None of that guarantees anything tomorrow, which is why we work so hard to continue educating, celebrating, and challenging the industry. It’s also why we ask you to click and share the content, spread the word, and invest in us. When you do, you help a family-run business.

If you’re connected to me on Facebook, look for hundreds of photos this week from the Bash. We snapped tons inside the venue and on the red carpet. We’ll have videos to share too including a produced recap from Travis Williams. Stephanie wants to host another one in 2026. I’m open to it but want to hear some feedback first. The mix of sports, news, and music professionals was pretty cool.

It was a GREAT night and professionally rewarding, but one thing did disappoint me. I’ve helped many folks land jobs, build careers, make money, and promote brands over the years. If you couldn’t make it that’s ok. I realize many have commitments they can’t break and flying to NY for a party isn’t feasible. But at least have the courtesy to respond. Invites were emailed many times in recent months. If you’re too busy to accept or decline an invite, then don’t be surprised if I’m too busy to answer your text, DM or phone call. Relationships are a two-way street.

Full Sessions Coming Soon to YouTube

In past years, Summit sessions have lived behind a paywall. This year, we’re doing it differently. The entire show will be made available for free on YouTube. We will start the editing process this week. Once all sessions are ready, I’ll make an announcement so folks can watch them. To avoid missing anything, subscribe today to our YouTube channel.

Thank You, Glenn Beck

I’ve shared stages with many greats over the past 7 years. My time spent with Glenn Beck was as rewarding as any conversation I’ve had. He was smart, insightful, passionate, interesting, and truly appreciative of being in the room with his peers.

Toast to 10: BNM Summit
Jason Barrett with Glenn Beck and Julie Talbott

We met backstage for the first time, and it was like two old friends reconnecting. He asked me, ‘how can I serve you, today?’ which blew me away. Here is one of the very best in our business taking time away from his show, business, and family to fly from Texas to New York to spend 45-minutes with me on stage, and his focus was on making sure I had what I needed. That’s what separates a world class talent and gem of a human being from the rest.

The conversation itself covered many critical issues. Glenn’s input on how he prioritizes business over ratings, digital content strategy, finding the next generation of talk talent, and artificial intelligence were fascinating. His strongest comments came in response to Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro suggesting politicians are only trying to save AM radio because it puts them on the air to get re-elected. When this session gets uploaded, make sure you watch it. Be ready to take notes.

Powerful Brands and Programming

Mike McVay’s session with Phil Boyce, Pete Mundo, Drew Anderssen, and Chris Berry was fantastic. These are some of the sharpest and most accomplished programmers in talk radio. The transparency they provided on stage was valuable to all attending. What I don’t get is how you can be a talent or programmer in news/talk radio and not be in the room when they’re speaking. If improving, winning, or getting hired matters to you, you should be present when the best in your business speak. All of these guys are great people too, and willing to make time to chat.

By the way, it extends beyond this session too. Brad Lane, Tom Cuddy, Ann Thomas, and Ken Charles were excellent with Jeff Katz. Mary Sandberg Boyle, Bennett Zier, and Michael Spacciapolli were as well with Tim McCarthy. Julia Ziegler, Ben Mevorach, Michael Lysak, and Jennifer Brown offered smart perspectives with Tim Scheld. Look it up, these are the best brand leaders and executives in news/talk radio. When they speak and are accessible, folks should be taking advantage of making time to connect with them.

The insights and opinions shared by Chris Ruddy and Jeff Warshaw were excellent. Jeff’s acquisition of Alpha Media closed on the morning of the Summit. Chris revealed Newsmax was suing Fox News during our conversation. Scott Jennings was also excellent. He’s making a mark on TV and radio and it was easy to see why. His energy and approach was perfect for kicking off day 1.

Toast to 10: BNM Summit
From L to R: Sid Rosenberg, Erick Erickson, Mark Simone, Mike Gallagher, and Garrett Searight

Another strong panel featured Sid Rosenberg, Mark Simone, Erick Erickson, and Mike Gallagher. After seeing a tweet earlier in the day of Mike in a hospital, I didn’t expect him to make it. Health comes first. Fortunately, everything turned out ok and those four men showed why they’re difference makers in the format. Similar to what I said earlier about being present when programming leaders speak, if you’re a talent, how are you not in the room when personalities of this caliber are sharing wisdom on how to excel?

This Blew My Mind

Did you know that in 35 years of broadcasting, Curtis Sliwa had never won a radio award? How is that possible? Given what Curtis has done for talk radio in the big apple, that is a travesty. Our business has to do a better job celebrating people who make an on-air impact. If you were fortunate to be in the room for the Premiere Networks Awards ceremony, you heard how much radio means to him. Celebrating the legends of our industry is an absolute must.

It extends off the air too. Did you know that despite spending over three decades in radio, and investing millions of dollars on advertising on behalf of his clients, Gary Sarner had never been asked to speak on a panel? That both surprised and disappointed me. Radio needs to make it a priority to feature people who are passionate about it and advocating for it. If you were in the room for our advertising panel, you left smarter because of Gary’s knowledge, candor, and passion.

Premiere Networks Awards Ceremony

I’m looking forward to sharing the awards videos with everyone soon. Travis Williams did an excellent job on them. JJ Surma, Jim Cutler, Dawn Cutler, and Garrett Searight did an outstanding job on the voiceovers too.

Toast to 10: BNM Summit
Top Row features from L to R – Julie Talbott, Julia Ziegler, Curtis Sliwa and John Catsmatidis. In the bottom row from L to R are Garrett Searight, Stephanie Eads, Jason Barrett, Dylan Barrett and Andy Drake.

To hear the emotion and love for talk radio from Curtis Sliwa was a real treat. Curtis is running for mayor of NYC and despite a busy schedule, still made time to attend. That’s because he loves talk radio and having his work recognized mattered to him.

I loved Julia Ziegler and Julie Talbott’s speeches too as they hit on important points. Julia challenged professionals to embrace being larger than radio. She explained how multiplatform distribution has made brands larger than ever. Talbott talked about her success in business, and how it requires a great team to make it possible.

The ceremony closed with a great address from Red Apple Media and 77WABC owner and CEO John Catsimatidis. John pledged to continue to fight for the AM radio band and against big tech to preserve the industry’s future. He encouraged everyone to use their voice and their platforms to alert the public and create more urgency.

A Shout Out to Fred Jacobs

At the end of the Summit, I closed with a few remarks on Fred Jacobs. If you weren’t there, this is for you too.

Few people have given more or done more for the radio industry than Fred Jacobs. When I launched Barrett Media and entered the consulting space, Fred didn’t treat me as a threat. He extended a hand and offered advice. We’ve connected many times over the years at industry events, and I’ve had him speak twice at our summit’s. We’ve featured him on this website many times, and I consider him an important voice for the radio industry.

Jason Barrett offering his closing comments on Fred Jacobs at the 2025 BNM Summit

Fred shared recently that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. As I said last Thursday, an email or text showing your support goes a long way. Fred’s done a lot of good for everyone else, the least we can do is take a minute to let him know we’re thinking of him and rooting for him.

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 YouTube Stole From Sports Radio’s Playbook for First NFL Free Broadcast

John Mamola
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How YouTube Stole From Sports Radio’s Playbook for First NFL Free Broadcast

The first NFL game on YouTube was a smashing success. How could it not be? A rare Friday night NFL contest featuring Taylor Swift’s new fiancé playing in the game. The contest was played in Brazil with the platform’s largest creators involved with the broadcast. The presentation was a blend of appealing to the younger end of the demo with the pregame, halftime, and postgame. The game broadcast was very traditional, with voices NFL fans were familiar with, and presented as a normal game broadcast.

A marriage between the NFL and YouTube was inevitable. More Americans are cutting the cord and searching out digital streaming options for entertainment than ever before. In fact, for the first time ever, every single NFL game this season will be available on one streaming platform or another. All 272 regular season games, with a total of 20 games this season only found on streaming platforms.

While major networks will complain about how audience measurement will be compiled for the contest, the fact is that YouTube captured both young and old with an NFL broadcast. All in the name of FREE, which sports radio has long forgotten is their biggest superpower.

No matter the size of your audience, the fact is you still have one. How you advertise your most important property on your platform will determine the success of it.

Using YouTube as the example, they provided a masterclass in how you should promote a content piece or program, providing a reminder to sports radio stations everywhere.

YouTube Took From Sports Radio

What YouTube did to ramp up excitement to their audience was have the promotion facing forward with, in big bold letters, the word FREE. MrBeast, YouTube’s largest creator, collaborated with the NFL on a video where he took over the ownership of the league. Other creators got involved in a three-minute storyline-driven advertisement marketing that the game is FREE on YouTube.

“For the first time ever, Chargers versus Chiefs will be live for FREE on YouTube,” said MrBeast. “Make sure you watch it. It’s literally FREE — why not?”

Hey sports radio, YouTube is taking away your best messaging!

The streaming platform used IShowSpeed, Tom Grossi, Skabeche, and RobeGrill for separate watch-along streams, leaning on their audiences to join the fun of watching an NFL game for FREE on YouTube. Each of those creators used their platforms on YouTube to promote those broadcasts, social media for tune-in, and collaborations with each other to promote.

All in the name of what YouTube historically has always been: FREE.

Isn’t that what sports radio is as well? When did the audio platforms fumble the ball on the most valuable marketing of all? The word FREE.

Strategy Matters

Programmers and talent may be rolling their eyes now as I’m comparing a global streaming platform to a local radio station. Sure, the audience size may be different, and radio stations aren’t owned by global search engines. The audience size may drastically differ, but the concept of the promotion remains the same.

Sports radio stations around the country have audiences through local transmission, social media, podcasting platforms. Some through streaming video channels such as YouTube, X, Twitch, and others. The opportunity to market your message on sports radio for tune-in has more potential for reach than a single streaming video platform does.

It’s all about the effort you put into it.

Are sports radio brands using their top talent for pre-roll videos on social platforms to cross-promote game day programming on their radio stations? Could sports radio brands that have the luxury of streaming on video platforms create graphics, rolling scrolls, and other digital ways to cross-promote game day programming during their live streams?

Radio brands charge top dollar for game day programming, even if you don’t have the rights for the broadcasts themselves. If the goal is maximum ROI, are sports radio brands putting in maximum effort?

Q4 is the time when sports radio brands make or break their year. Planning begins the minute the Super Bowl ends, and sales teams roll out throughout the spring and summer to secure advertising dollars for the timeframe. YouTube is no different than your local sports radio brand.

Game day is officially here for sports radio brands. The weekly storylines carry your weekly local programming. Football fans are heavily interested in hearing conversation or review and preview for the next contest.

Every new week provides sports radio brands a daily opportunity to remind your audience to come to you on game day. When everything else costs money, your content doesn’t on game day.

It’s far beyond time for sports radio to take the ball back and begin a new drive toward gaining audience, advertising revenue, and improving the overall promotional experience.

All in the name of FREE. Happy football season!

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.

Classic Rock Radio’s Mid-Year Report Card

Mike Stern
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Classic Rock Radio’s Mid-Year Report Card

I realize that just as the kids are all back in school and everyone is settling in for the fall seems like an odd time for a mid-year report card. But sometimes it can take a while to compile all the necessary data. It’s better to share the news than not, so let’s look at some notes from the first half (or seven months) of the year and see what, if any, conclusions we can draw.

Classic Rock Keeps Growing

Classic Rock is one of three formats showing significant growth in the first half of 2025 according to Inside Radio. Rolling up the PPM-rated markets, the report showed Classic Rock, which is already the fifth largest format 6+ and the seventh largest 25-54, grew close to 10% in both demos for July compared to January of this year.

Good news for Classic Hits as well which has also shown steady growth from a 5.5% share in January to a 5.8% share for the last three straight months. Adult Hits, meanwhile, is generally flat having started the year around a 2.7% share, climbed to a 3.0% in June but fell back in July to January level.

Looking at year-over-year trends for the first seven months, in 2022 Classic Rock was a 5.2% share of listening. In 2023 and 2024 it rose to 5.6%. It then settled back to 5.4% this year. Still ahead of 2022 but not quite at the same levels.

Classic Hits year-over-year trend isn’t as encouraging. In 2023, the format captured 6% of listening. It has trended down though slipping to 5.8% and 5.7% respectively the last two years. However, Adult Hits has improved from 2.6% of listening in 2022 to 2.8% so far in 2025.

Three Minutes at a Time

With seven months of data available it also seemed like a good time to check in with Nielsen to look back at the impact of the change to the three minute accreditation rule which started January 1st. As a reminder, if a listener tunes in for three minutes during any quarter hour the station will receive credit for that person’s listening. This is a change from the rule which used to require five minutes.

The biggest news is that Average Quarter Hour (AQH) is up almost across the board. As you’d expect, when the standard for receiving credit becomes easier, more quarter hours are generated. While the impact in our world is negligible it is good for the sellers. The increased amount of reported listening means salespeople will have an easier time competing with other media. That helps them with setting higher prices.

Break down the data by format and nearly every group Nielsen measures has shown an increase in the amount of quarter hours being generated. But the impact on share, according to Jon Miller, Vice President of Audience Insights at Nielsen, has been negligible. Explained another way, most formats are getting the same sized slice of the pie relative to everyone else. The pie itself though has gotten larger.

Since we’re all competitive, I looked at some numbers. Here is the good news. Of the major formats, Classic Rock, Classic Hits and Adult Hits all showed some of the bigger increases in AQH compared to other formats.

Among 25-54 adults, when you compare the last three months of 2024 to the first seven months of 2025, Classic Rock went from averaging and AQH of 124,500 to 151,200, the fourth biggest gain amongst the major formats and a 21% increase. Classic Hits was right behind adding 26,110 AQH, an increase of 19%. Adult Hits also grew its AQH by about 20% adding 15,581.

Not surprisingly, the numbers 35-64 look even better. Classic Rock had the biggest increase in AQH jumping nearly 40,000, an increase of 20%. Classic Hits and Adult Hits also showed increases with both growing their AQH by 18%.

This doesn’t mean shares will skyrocket. However, it’s nice to see the change in methodology benefitting Classic-leaning stations as much or more so than to other formats. Hopefully, that will result in more advertising sold on our stations at higher rates and more job security.

Overall, it’s a rather good report card. Closer to the type of grades that get you taken out for ice cream than grounded. I’ll take that.

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.

Would News/Talk Radio Hosts and PDs Use AI-Generated Voices For Content?

Garrett Searight
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Would News/Talk Radio Hosts and PDs Use AI-Generated Voices For Content?

At the BNM Summit in New York last week, one of the biggest names in news/talk radio — Glenn Beck — revealed that he and his team are working on indexing his entire catalogue of shows in an AI software program, eloquently dubbed “Glenn AI.”

That revelation makes all the sense in the world. It allows Beck and his producers to quickly find any topic he’s discussed in the past, pull it up, and do whatever they want with it. Whether they want to showcase how he’s been consistent with an opinion on a certain topic or subject, whether he was wrong on the same item, or how he reacted to certain high-profile news events, it is a useful and powerful tool to have at one’s disposal.

At the same time, Beck was asked if he would ever utilize the AI technology, which would be trained exclusively by his content, to create content, whether it be a radio segment, a podcast, or a digital video component.

The news/talk radio legend wasn’t shy in his answer, saying that he would absolutely consider utilizing AI-generated content if he knew that it was only being created by his specifically developed program. He did share, however, that he didn’t believe the technology was powerful enough or currently good enough to utilize in an on-air or front-facing capacity yet.

The precedent has been set on both sides of the coin, so to speak. Earlier this year, Saga Communications announced it would be ending its contracts with voiceover artists and instead use AI-generated voices for its station imaging. Meanwhile, others have stated that they would never utilize AI-generated content, including Dave Ramsey, who said last year, “We’re using principles where you’re not going to hear an AI-generated voice out of Ramsey. We’ve made that decision.”

Some in attendance were surprised that Beck would admit that he would use AI to create such content. I spoke with three news/talk radio hosts and program directors — who were granted anonymity to speak more freely on the subject — to gauge their reactions to Beck’s statements, and to question whether or not they would allow their talent or stations to act similarly.

“It’s too early to answer that question, because Glenn’s right. The AI — at least that I’ve seen and heard — isn’t good enough to be used on air,” one program director told me. “These are questions we need to have answers for now, rather than later, because when AI is good enough to be used on air, we’ll need to have answers for what we’re going to do.”

One brand leader I spoke with used an interesting analogy to discuss the use of AI as a replacement for their own content.

“I have a friend who was a serial filanderer,” the longtime news/talk programmer began. “He was guilty of having several affairs. And he once told me that he had two thoughts after the first time he cheated on his wife. On one side, he knew it was wrong and should never do it again. The other thought? ‘That was really easy to get away with.’

“I tell you that story because I think this is similar. If you think you can do it and no one will ever find out, you’re much more likely to do it.”

That programmer later shared that they believed that their stance would be that any content generated by AI would come with a disclaimer that it wasn’t actually from the talent that the audience was hearing, and was in fact artificially generated.

A host I spoke with agreed that the temptation might be too much to pass up.

“It’s a slippery slope, but one I don’t know can be avoided,” they argued. “Being a radio host is now a 24/7 job. You’re always looking for content. Show prep is a permanent job. Burnout is something I think we all deal with. So, if a news story happens on the weekend, or at night when you’re already in your PJs getting ready for bed, I think knowing that AI could create a podcast addressing that breaking news would be difficult to say no to. Especially if the audience was none the wiser. The demand on hosts now, I think, is growing to where you’re going to need help to do everything that’s asked of you.”

That host added that they would feel more inclined to utilize AI in digital aspects rather than their radio show, believing in the sanctity of their AM/FM radio show. They cautioned that, should the AI prove to be good enough at replicating their stances, voice, and cadence, broadcasters would quickly realize “They won’t need me anymore.”

That host also shared that a way to protect hosts from being at risk of replacement by AI was by having more interactions with callers, noting that they believed that could potentially be the most difficult aspect AI would struggle to replicate, rather than delivering a monologue on a given topic.

As he mentioned that he would be open to allowing AI to create content for him and his programs, Glenn Beck did not share more details on whether or how he would label any potential content created by the technology. He also did not give a firm timetable on when he felt as if the AI-powered programs utilized by his team would be good enough to create said programming.

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.

Face the Nation and CBS News Are Making A Mistake With New No-Editing Interview Policy

Garrett Searight
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Face the Nation and CBS News Are Making A Mistake With New No-Editing Interview Policy

CBS News believes it is taking a bold step forward by mandating that interviews airing on Face the Nation will no longer be edited. The network is trying to project an air of transparency and authenticity, but in practice, it feels like a misguided attempt at purity that ignores how modern politicians operate and how modern media functions.

Politicians have perfected the craft of not answering questions. Ask them about inflation, and you’ll hear a 90-second soliloquy on how their opponent is to blame for something that happened 15 years ago. Request a straight answer on foreign policy, and you’re treated to a word salad so tangled it makes little sense by the end of the response. Leaving these rambling, evasive answers unedited may appear noble, but it will frustrate viewers and drain the effectiveness of the broadcast.

One of the hallmarks of strong journalism is clarity. Editing interviews doesn’t mean changing meaning; it means refining them for comprehension and context. When a guest filibusters their way through an answer, clipping the fat allows viewers to focus on what was actually said — or not said. Stripping that ability away puts the burden on the audience to parse nonsense, and in today’s fractured media landscape, that is asking for trouble.

This new policy also limits the usefulness of CBS News content across its many platforms. Face the Nation interviews are often gold mines for digital repackaging. A sharp, three-minute exchange can thrive on YouTube. A concise answer can be repurposed for CBS’s FAST channel or a Paramount+ news hub. Even CBS Evening News producers can pull soundbites that fit their rundown. Refusing to edit interviews means CBS is boxing itself out of maximizing distribution opportunities, which every media company desperately needs in 2025.

Audiences consume news in clips more than ever. Very few people sit down for a full 45-minute interview anymore. They want portions that are easy to digest, easy to share, and easy to understand. CBS News is essentially handicapping itself in the fight for relevance in the digital space by insisting on the “uncut” version. That might sound good in a press release, but it falls flat when trying to reach younger audiences who never tune in live.

It’s also important to remember that editing is not inherently deceptive. Networks have editorial standards, fact-checking systems, and producers whose jobs are to ensure interviews are presented fairly. Removing repetition, cleaning up fragmented phrases, or cutting the five times a guest dodged the same question is not manipulation; it’s good storytelling. By refusing to exercise that editorial judgment, CBS is letting politicians dictate the quality of the product rather than the journalists themselves.

And let’s be honest: politicians will absolutely take advantage of this. If you know you can run out the clock with a 90-second talking point that eats up the question (or more likely, avoids the question entirely), why wouldn’t you? The unedited policy rewards avoidance. Instead of being pressed to answer, guests can stretch and stall, knowing their entire response — no matter how empty — is guaranteed airtime. That’s not accountability. That’s surrender.

Other outlets will benefit from CBS’s decision. Competitors who edit for clarity will create crisper, more shareable content. When MSNBC or CNN puts out a highlight clip that actually gets to the heart of the matter, and CBS offers a meandering five-minute non-answer, which one do you think audiences will choose? The network’s self-imposed shackles could make Face the Nation feel bloated and less competitive.

CBS News is trying to sell this as transparency, but what viewers truly want is understanding. They want to know what was said, why it matters, and how it fits into the broader narrative. Editing is a service to the audience, not a betrayal of it. By abandoning that responsibility, CBS is acting more as a stenographer than a journalist.

Ultimately, the move feels like a retreat from what made Face the Nation one of the most respected shows in television news. The program built its reputation on holding leaders accountable and cutting through noise to deliver clarity. The new policy undercuts that mission. Instead of producing sharper, more informative journalism, the show risks becoming a stage for obfuscation.

CBS News — until it needed to pay a what can easily be viewed as a bribe to the Trump administration to get its merger with Skydance approved — has always prided itself on its journalistic standards. That’s why this policy is so puzzling. It’s a decision that prioritizes optics over substance, and in doing so, it hampers the network’s ability to connect with audiences across platforms.

Editing interviews doesn’t weaken journalism. It strengthens it. And without that strength, Face the Nation could lose the very edge that made it matter in the first place.

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 Radio Can Void the Risk of Joining the Island of Misfit Media

Perry Michael Simon
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How Radio Can Void the Risk of Joining the Island of Misfit Media

Go to your kitchen. Look at the counter and open the cabinets and drawers. Don’t be afraid to dig way back into the corners. What do you see? I’ll bet you see relics of cooking fads past. But is there a radio?

There’s a George Foreman grill back there, and an Instant Pot. Look, there’s the waffle iron you swore you’d use every day, just like the ones at the hotel breakfast buffet. The juicer is still on the counter next to the rarely-used food processor, because they don’t fit in the cabinet. The Sodastream is there, too. The kitchen scale you bought when you went on that diet that made you weigh every ingredient down to the ounce is gathering dust.

And, oh, look, you have an electric knife, which you broke out once or twice a year to carve the turkey on holidays before it became a chore just to pull it out of the drawer. At least the air fryer, microwave, and Keurig are still active, although the air fryer is teetering on the edge of joining the Island of Misfit Gadgets.

Yes, we’re going to talk about radio.

The average American – not someone working in radio, just any person of any age or occupation – probably owns a radio that’s not on the car dashboard, but they’ve forgotten that they do. It might be the clock radio that once woke them up with some cheery morning show, or a portable they used to listen to the ballgame while doing yard work, or one of those hand-cranked emergency radios that hasn’t yet seen an emergency.

Most people are not crazy like me; I can see seven radios right here in my office, including a portable with HD radio, one with the TEF6686 chip and shortwave, one DAB radio from my European travels, a cool vintage-looking Grundig, a miniature that looks like a vintage radio and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, a nice Sony portable shortwave/AM/FM radio that doesn’t work and needs someone to clean out battery corrosion, and, probably never to be plugged in again, an AM stereo receiver. That doesn’t even include the Amazon Echo Dot that can stream radio stations, and the iPhone that can do the same.

What do they have in common? I don’t use them that much. In fact, in an average week I don’t think I use them at all. They’re here if I need them. I guess I don’t.

Or, at least, when I DO need them, they’re not always reliable. Being blacked out on TV for this weekend’s Phillies-Marlins series and too lazy/unmotivated to make the interminable drive to Little Havana to see the games in person (with tickets going for $5, no less), I thought I’d put the game on the radio. Let’s hear what that sounded like here on the fringes of the Marlins’ flagship signal:

ZZZZZZZZZZcrackleZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Oh, but they have a West Palm Beach affiliate, too, just a few miles from here. What did that sound like? Same thing. The entire AM band is useless, even for stations right nearby. (The Miami station simulcasts on an HD subchannel of a sister FM, but the HD signal gives out a few miles south of me, so no luck.) The music I like is not aired on any FM station here. The talk stations are all pro-Trump, all the time. All but one station in the noncommercial band run Christian formats and I’m… not that. If I spoke Spanish or Haitian Kreyol, I’d have more to listen to, but I don’t.

So my radios are really relics, like all those kitchen appliances. In fairness, I do use them on occasion to listen to the two FM sports stations here, but that’s about it. In emergencies, we put on local television for weather reports if we have power, and have a battery-powered TV in case the power goes out. And we use our phones for all other audio, because that’s where the music we like is available on demand, the news commentary (podcasts) is always there, the play-by-play is easy to find, and the sound mercifully free of that electrical interference.

Meanwhile, websites and social media have made a lot of news organizations obsolete, and that’s all available on the phone as well. I don’t see smartphones going the way of the SlapChop until and unless they can implant their capabilities in your brain with a chip (no, Elon, I don’t want that).

The assignment, then, for radio is to come up with ways to make itself useful in a way that people will not abandon. Doing things the way they were done when there was no real competition is not an option. Offering things people want – better programming, instant news, on demand options, better sound – would help, but I don’t know that it would prompt anyone to dust off the old radios and start using them at home the way it was 20 or 30 years ago.

Times have changed. There are a lot of gadgets that used to be ubiquitous and are now obsolete or just less necessary. That’s of concern to station owners, investors, and people who thought radio would be an employment option forever.

For creative people, you’re now painting on different canvases. Life goes on, with or without radio.

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.

SportsRadio 94WIP Sets New Record With Eagles Radiothon

BSM Staff
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SportsRadio 94WIP Sets New Record With Eagles Radiothon

Audacy announced Friday that the annual Eagles Radiothon, broadcast last week on SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia, set a new fundraising record with $610,000 generated for the Eagles Autism Foundation. The total surpassed previous years and highlighted both the reach of 94WIP’s airwaves and the loyalty of Eagles fans in Philadelphia.

Of the money raised, 11 exclusive experiences donated directly by 94WIP hosts and staff contributed $40,000.

“Each year, I’m astonished by the generosity of our listeners, fans, and partners during the Eagles Radiothon,” said David Yadgaroff, Audacy’s senior vice president and market manager in Philadelphia. “It continues to drive us year after year to make a meaningful difference. The whole SportsRadio 94WIP family is proud to help raise money for such an important cause.”

The multi-day event once again paired the station’s personalities with the NFL franchise to offer listeners unique opportunities to give back. Fans bid on game-day packages, autographed items, and one-of-a-kind experiences with Eagles players and SportsRadio 94WIP talent.

The auction aired across the station’s lineup from August 27-28.

The 94WIP Morning Show with Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie kicked off the event, followed by 94WIP Middays featuring Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio, and the afternoon drive with Ike Reese, Spike Eskin, and Jack Fritz.

For Audacy Philadelphia, the event underscored its ability to connect with listeners beyond traditional sports talk. All proceeds benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation, which funds innovative autism research and care programs. The collaboration has grown into one of the most visible examples of how a sports station can extend its impact in the community while maintaining its core identity. For 94WIP, which thrives on its passionate base of Eagles fans, the radiothon represents a natural extension of the station’s brand and voice.

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.

‘Inside The NFL’ Returns September 8 Streaming On X

BSM Staff
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‘Inside The NFL’ Returns September 8 Streaming On X

Inside the NFL is getting a fresh start. The long-running football highlight and analysis program will return for the 2025-26 season with a completely reimagined format, a new host, and a brand-new platform.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the iconic show will debut September 8 on the social media platform X, marking the beginning of a weekly rollout that will feature at least 10 short-form episodes each week. NFL Films will continue to produce the series, keeping its long-standing fingerprints on the program while adapting to a new digital-first strategy.

ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark has been tapped to lead the reboot, bringing his fast-paced energy and candid style to the show. However, NFL Films executives hinted that other on-air contributors could join Clark as the season unfolds, giving the series flexibility to feature fresh voices depending on storylines.

Previously The CW carried Inside the NFL for one season before deciding earlier this year not to renew the program. That opened the door for X to step in and claim the rights. For the social media platform, the move adds significant value to its live sports strategy and helps create a steady drumbeat of NFL-driven content during the season.

Before airing on The CW for the last two seasons, Inside the NFL spent the previous two years on Paramount+ following a 13-year run with Showtime. The program first started on HBO in 1977 where it remained for just over three decades featuring longtime cast members Len Dawson, Nick Buoniconti and James Brown.

Each transition has reflected changes in both media consumption and league partnerships, but the move to X marks perhaps the most dramatic shift yet, with the series leaning heavily into shorter, digital-friendly episodes designed for quick engagement.

For the NFL, maintaining the program’s presence across nearly five decades is another example of how the league leverages its media properties to reach different audiences. The choice of Clark as host also fits the NFL’s push to spotlight analysts with active player credibility and a strong digital presence. Since retiring from the league in 2012, the former Pittsburgh Steelers safety has become a standout voice at ESPN, co-hosting shows like NFL Live and appearing across the network’s NFL coverage.

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Newsmax Lawsuit Against Fox News Dismissed

BNM Staff
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Newsmax Lawsuit Against Fox News Dismissed

Roughly 48 hours after Newsmax launched a lawsuit against Fox News, the case has been dismissed by a U.S. District Judge.

Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the lawsuit on Friday afternoon. However, the dismissal was without prejudice, meaning that Newsmax could re-file the case in the same court or attempt to take the case away from the Southern District of Florida. The case was dismissed by Cannon for what she called duplicative causes of action.

The complaint from Newsmax alleged that Fox had leveraged its dominance to coerce distributors into restrictive agreements that exclude or marginalize rival channels. The lawsuit detailed a range of what it labeled as exclusionary tactics. These included “no-carry” provisions that tied access to Fox News with restrictions on carrying competing news networks, financial penalties that required distributors to carry Fox channels like FS1 and Fox Business Network if they also carry Newsmax, and confidential drag-down clauses that penalize the promotion of Newsmax in basic packages.

“Fox’s behavior represents a textbook abuse of monopoly power,” said Michael J. Guzman, an attorney for Newsmax at the time of the filing. “Competition, not coercion, should determine what news channels Americans can watch. Fox has blocked new voices, suppressed consumer choice, and extracted excess profits.”

The lawsuit launched a war of words between the two cable entities. A Fox News spokesperson told Barrett Media, “Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they can’t attract viewers.”

In response, the cable channel founded by Chris Ruddy retorted by stating, “If Newsmax was such a ratings failure, why has FOX spent so much time, energy, and resources to suppress us, block us, and denigrate us?” a network spokesperson shared. “The answer is obvious. Also please note that FOX in its statement does not deny any of our serious allegations.”

Newsmax has shared its intention to ammend its lawsuit, which Judge Cannon shared must be done by Thursday, September 11th.

“We understand this is just a technical matter and our law firm is refiling,” a Newsmax spokesperson said in a statement.

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 Networks See Second Highest Viewership Over Labor Day Weekend in Last Three Decades

BSM Staff
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ESPN Networks See Second Highest Viewership Over Labor Day Weekend in Last Three Decades

ESPN networks kicked off the fall sports season with one of the most-watched Labor Day Weekends in decades, delivering the second-highest audience for the holiday period in at least 30 years and the network’s largest Labor Day Weekend audience since 2016. From Saturday, August 30, through Monday, September 1, fans consumed 16.8 billion minutes across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.

The holiday slate featured standout performances across multiple sports, with several properties hitting all-time or multi-year audience highs.

College football led the charge, with ESPN networks posting their most-watched Kickoff Weekend on record. Fifteen games averaged 4.1 million viewers, up 31 percent year-over-year. Notably, three ABC games exceeded 10 million viewers, marking a first for a regular-season weekend.

College GameDay, ESPN’s flagship college football pregame show, also reached record viewership. Lee Corso’s final appearance drew an average of 4.0 million viewers, solidifying the episode as the most-watched in the program’s history.

Tennis coverage continued to resonate with fans as well. ABC’s broadcast of the U.S. Open Round of 16 averaged 2.2 million viewers, the most-watched Round of 16 telecast since 2015. Meanwhile, Third Round coverage posted a 15 percent increase over last year and drew its largest audience since 2022.

ESPN Events made history in college volleyball with the inaugural Broadway Block Party, as Nebraska’s matchup against Kentucky on ABC became the most-watched regular-season college volleyball match ever, averaging 1.2 million viewers.

Baseball also contributed to the network’s success. Sunday Night Baseball’s Braves-Phillies game attracted 1.9 million viewers, a 28 percent increase from last season’s Sunday Night Baseball average.

ESPN’s flagship news program, SportsCenter, saw growth across 11 live episodes. Saturday morning’s edition, which featured interviews with on-air personalities at top college football games, averaged 942,000 viewers. Monday night’s SportsCenter with SVP following the TCU-UNC matchup drew 1.2 million viewers.

Motorsports fans tuned in as well, with Sunday’s Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix averaging 1.2 million viewers, the largest audience ever for the event. Viewership peaked at 1.3 million between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. ET as Oscar Piastri crossed the finish line for the win.

ESPN’s Labor Day Weekend performance underscores the network’s continued ability to capture audience attention across a diverse sports lineup. From college football’s opening weekend to major tennis and motorsports events, the combination of marquee matchups and legacy programming drove substantial gains for the network, setting the stage for what is expected to be a high-octane fall season.

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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