After more than 20 years at Fox News, chief meteorologist Rick Reichmuth — who was mostly featured on FOX & Friends — is stepping away from the network.
Reichmuth joined Fox News in 2004, after previously working at CNN and Weather Services International.
In addition to his work with Fox News, Reichmuth has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of the FOX Weather channel and platform.
On Sunday morning’s edition of the network’s morning show, a montage of Reichmuth’s best and favorite moments on air was shared.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Today we say goodbye to @rickreichmuth after 19 incredible years on the show.
During his farewell message, Rick Reichmuth noted that he’ll spend more time working and focusing on his “Weatherman” brand, which features apparel like umbrellas, ponchos, backpacks, and hats, among other things. He added that the company has donated more than half a million dollars to the Folds of Honor charity since its inception.
“I was in banking until I was 30, and this was a second career for me, because I, as a kid, always wanted to be a meteorologist,” said Reichmuth. “It was my childhood dream. And I’ve done this. And then you grow older, and you have some new experiences, and you learn new things, and I started a business … and I have learned so much, and I’m loving it … I built a business, and I have employees and investors, and I have responsibilities with it that are important and matter.”
Several of his current and former colleagues shared well-wishes on social media to Reichmuth during his final day at Fox News.
It’s @rickreichmuth’s last day on Fox. I’m sad I won’t see him at work, but I know he’ll be in my life forever. He’s got some amazing things planned including his @wxmanumbrella business. I’m so grateful for his friendship, advice and encouragement. I love you, Rick!♥️ pic.twitter.com/mE2U25mRsd
Wishing @rickreichmuth all the best. This is his last day on FOX after 19 years! Rick is one of the most talented and nicest guys you’ll ever meet. It was great seeing him in New York. He will be focusing more on his incredible @wxmanumbrella company. Wishing you rainy skies… pic.twitter.com/xsAnaiYJEl
Farewell to @rickreichmuth after an incredible 19 yrs! He has always been one of the nicest, most gracious, and down to earth individuals I’ve been blessed to work with. Congrats on an amazing run, my friend! https://t.co/8vFXzVsJGbpic.twitter.com/H7YDwzVGPk
From the Big Apple to the heel of the boot! We’re sending @rickreichmuth off to Italy with an Italian feast — thanks to Deluca's Italian Restaurant for this morning’s pasta spread. pic.twitter.com/I5KpLA38B2
Rick Reichmuth is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association.
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.
CNN Headlines — the free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel — has relaunched with an updated programming lineup, the network has announced.
In 2024, CNN debuted a CNN Originals channel, with the FAST channel being added later, before being rebranded to the “Headlines” moniker used now.
Included in the new programming will be CNN Headline Express, anchored by Brad Smith, who joined the network in July. Additionally, a new program called ICYMI — an acronym for “In Case You Missed It” — will feature the “most newsworthy and compelling stories” from the network’s U.S. operations.
American Pulse has also been added to the lineup. That show is an hour-long dedication to reporting from network affiliates around the nation.
“The relaunch of CNN Headlines is vital to our distribution and investment strategy, and I’m proud of how hard our teams across CNN have worked to innovate in this space,” said Executive Vice President of U.S. Programming Eric Sherling. “By tapping into our vast affiliate network and providing timely live news updates, our refreshed offering serves the growing market and complements our existing cable programming.”
The entire lineup for the FAST channel includes:
CNN Headlines Weekly Schedule (Monday-Friday):
7 AM ET – CNN Headline Express (live)
8AM ET – CNN Headline Express
9 AM ET – CNN Headline Express
10 AM ET – ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
11 AM ET – CNN Headline Express (live)
12 PM ET – CNN Headline Express
1 PM ET – CNN Headline Express
2 PM ET – American Pulse
3 PM ET – ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
4 PM ET – American Pulse
5 PM ET – CNN Headline Express (live)
6 PM ET – CNN Headline Express
7 PM ET – CNN Headline Express
8 PM ET – ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
9 PM ET – American Pulse
10 PM ET – CNN Headline Express
11 PM ET – ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the league is close to determining the future of its MLB national television rights package, currently held by ESPN, with a decision expected in the near future.
Speaking during Sunday night’s broadcast of the Little League Classic on ESPN, Manfred told viewers that the league is in the final stages of negotiations.
“We’re having very detailed conversations with a number of parties, including ESPN,” Manfred said. “We hope to have it resolved in the next couple of weeks. It’s a little bit like a jigsaw puzzle, but we will have it resolved in the next few weeks.”
ESPN’s Karl Ravech, who was calling the game for the network, made clear the network’s interest in keeping the package in-house, saying on the broadcast, “I put my hand up for hoping that we stay involved.”
The current agreement between MLB and ESPN runs through the 2025 season. ESPN and MLB mutually announced an end to the current agreement earlier this year. The mutual opt out of the final three seasons of its $550 million annual agreement between MLB and ESPN included rights to Sunday Night Baseball, the Home Run Derby, and a portion of MLB’s postseason coverage including the wild card round.
While ESPN has been a longstanding partner for the league, broadcasting Sunday Night Baseball as its flagship package, there has been speculation about whether other media entities—streaming or traditional—will attempt to secure a share of the rights moving forward. There has been reporting that MLB is in discussions with Amazon, Apple, ESPN, and NBC Sports for several concepts of a rights package.
Manfred noted that while negotiations are ongoing, the league has been encouraged by strong performance metrics both on and off the field.
“We’re having another great attendance year, we’re going to be above 70 million again,” Manfred said. “I think it’s a good thing we’re seeing some teams — Detroit’s played so well, Milwaukee’s played so well, it’s a great thing. I think the Dodgers-Padres rivalry is getting into that same zone that the Yankees and the Red Sox are in and have been in. The game on the field we feel like is in really, really good shape.”
Manfred had originally set a date of the MLB All-Star game in July to settle the broadcast rights agreements, but the timeline passed with no deals official.
While no timeline was specified beyond the “next couple of weeks,” the clarity Manfred provided signals that baseball’s media landscape could soon look very different.
Rob Manfred discusses the future of MLB’s TV contracts at the Little League Classic:
“We’re having very detailed conversations with a number of parties, including ESPN. We hope to have it resolved in the next couple of weeks.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
The latest BNM Summit is set to take place early next month in New York City. Salem Radio Network host Mike Gallagher is relishing the opportunity to both speak and attend the event.
Gallagher has spent more than 40 years in the talk radio space. Despite that longevity, he’s still interested to learn as much as he can at the upcoming event.
“I’m a student of the business,” said Gallagher. “I really do study the industry and have tried to learn everything I can to be the best talk show host I can possibly be.
“I’m always doing my best to keep up with every new platform,” Gallagher continued about what he hopes to learn more about in New York. “Every new methodology we use to deliver our content. Ultimately, though, content is king. That is as true today as it’s ever been, and I am afraid that sometimes our business or industry forgets that. We get so enamored with which digital platform we should be on or what does something look like or how is it digitized, and we forget you still have to connect with your audience. You still have to demonstrate the trust factor that, hopefully, you’ve built with your audience.”
Gallagher noted that he enjoys the expansions that have come in news media, whether it be radio, TV, or digital aspects like podcasting and social media. He added that the low barrier of entry can be seen as a negative, but it makes everyone currently in the space perform at the top of their game.
“Longevity counts. It’s a lot of flashes in the pan right now. I like the way our business has sort of expanded so that it’s not limited to a select few people anymore. Anybody with a laptop and a microphone can do a show, but you gotta be good at it,” the Salem Radio Network host said. “I’m proud of my track record, and I’ll stack mine up against anybody’s any day of the week.
“So, I’m intrigued at this conference in New York about sort of marrying that message of what good content needs to be along with these new platforms that are popping up all over the place and how the new digital era is upon us. Look, it’s a brave new world, and I’m still having the time of my life. Looking at all of these new platforms is part of how we deliver our message to the audience.”
Mike Gallagher has spoken at other conferences in the past. But this will be his first time at the BNM Summit. The event takes place in his old stomping grounds of New York, where he previously worked at 77 WABC. He added that he’s looking forward to the opportunity to fellowship with other broadcasters and have the chance to share some of the knowledge he’s collected in his career.
“It’s fun for me to be able to showcase the fruit of 40-plus years of labor I put into talk radio,” he said. “So to get to be with industry peers is a real joy. Because you get to share war stories and talk about where the industry was and where it is headed. We get to talk about the ever-changing media landscape. I’m a radio guy initially, but now I better be a podcast. And now, I need to be adept at social media. I need to embrace digital, and I have. Our company has done everything we can to make that pivot.
“It’s fun. It’s a nice getaway,” Mike Gallagher admitted. “Unlike a normal conference, where we’re just talking politics or I’m delivering a speech, this is a chance to engage in real-time with colleagues and professionals who love doing what I do as much as I do. I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to it.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
We’re closing in on what should be an exceptional BNM Summit and Barrett Bash on September 3-4, 2025. 24 speakers have been announced so far for the Summit, nearly 200 are registered for the Bash including a ton of heavyweights and high profile personalities, and I’m very much looking forward to connecting the industry and continuing to explore ways to make our business better.
That provides the perfect segue for today’s announcement.
Radio as many know has experienced financial challenges in recent years. There’s a lot of work to be done on the marketing end to excite marketers and listeners. However, the business maintains incredible reach, and a powerful connection in local markets. It’s an industry that is very much alive, and important to those who listen and work in the business.
While many have sought to exit the industry, one gentlemen has pursued investing further in it. He has explored purchases of Audacy and Cumulus Media, and just last week, received FCC approval to bring Alpha Media and Connoisseur Media together. I’m excited to announce that Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw, will join me at 10:50am on Day 2 of the BNM Summit for our Keynote Conversation.
If you’ve never heard Jeff speak before, you’re in for a treat. He’s a straight shooter who’s passionate about the business, and conveys his points in a manner that gets your attention. He launched Connoisseur Communications Partners LP in 1993, growing it to a 39-station powerhouse before selling to Cumulus in 2000 for $258 million. In 2004, he founded Connoisseur Media, which operates 13 radio station brands and digital assets across five markets. With the acquisition of Alpha Media, the company will soon add 207 stations in 44 markets to its portfolio, giving it a large local footprint.
In addition, I am thrilled to add an all-news programming panel to Day 1 of the Summit. Joining WTOP Director of Programming Julia Ziegler will be Audacy Director of News & Programming for 1010 WINS Ben Mevorach, and CBS News Radio Executive Editor Jennifer Brown. Leading the session will be Montclair State Adjunct Professor, past chair of RTDNA and former WCBS880 News Director Tim Scheld.
We’ll release the full schedule for the Summit later this week on BNMSummit.com. Our full list of speakers is currently available on the website. You can also purchase tickets there if you haven’t already done so. Tomorrow, I will announce the first recipient for this year’s awards ceremony. We will reveal our selection for this year’s Gold Standard in Leadership honor.
Howard Stern-SiriusXM Teaser Promos
I have to credit Shitty Radio Jock for bringing this to my attention. While scrolling on Instagram Friday, I saw a post that said ‘THIS is How You Do a Tease Promo‘. It was built around Howard Stern’s return to the airwaves on September 2nd to address the SiriusXM drama. I watched/listened to it, and couldn’t agree more, it was really well done.
What surprised me were the responses to the post. Rather than crediting good work and acknowledging how we can do better, many pointed to Stern’s staff being large, and radio lacking support. This may offend some but there’s a lot of undesirable imaging on radio stations today. With the arrival of AI, there should be no excuse for a lack of creative imaging. So much time is wasted on fluff that audiences won’t remember. I hear many promos which are the equivalent of going to a restaurant and hearing a waiter read you the menu.
A former imaging director I worked with named Jeff Schmidt once told me, ‘Promos are commercials. If we’re going to run those, take them off the air and eliminate my job, you don’t need them’. Jeff went on to explain that promos should produce the equivalent feeling of what an audience experiences when they watch a movie trailer. People don’t care that it’s a commercial. They become engaged and feel a need to take out their wallet to buy tickets to the film. Our job is to make them feel something, and want to hear/see what’s happening. Here’s a great example of it.
I was on a project a few weeks ago helping a new PD. A longtime host was returning to the airwaves and a promo was running promoting his return. It was solid but I explained how the next step comes from creative writing/messaging, and using hooks or familiar lines to grab attention. Instead of using liners to explain that a host is coming back, we discussed grabbing the hook of Luke Combs’ new song which says ‘it don’t matter where I’ve been, I’m back in the saddle again‘. It’s about invading the listener’s head space. If the hook, message and sound are strong, recall of what’s happening is higher.
Imaging issues exist in my opinion for a few key reasons: people are spread too thin, they don’t prioritize it, and/or they’re not creative. PDs and imaging directors are often hired without being asked to showcase their writing, test their creativity or demonstrate how they’d bring certain things to life on the air. Can you imagine if the season return for Tulsa King, The Voice, the next ESPY’s or a new documentary was written and imaged the way radio does it? Television would be a mess.
The Howard Stern teaser promo is excellent. It tells a story in thirty seconds that intrigues you to tune in on September 2nd. These type of promos are not hard to do. It’s just a question of whether or not you care enough to create them or are capable of producing movie trailers instead of noise.
Hubbard Introduces ‘That’s Called Radio’
Ginny Hubbard came up with a great idea, which Greg Strassell introduced at Morning Show Boot Camp. During an internal brainstorm of how to promote Gamut podcasts on Hubbard’s radio stations, Ginny told the group ‘don’t forget to promote radio on podcasts too’. That may seem like an obvious thing to do, but many radio stations spend tons of air time promoting apps, podcasts, and social media channels but don’t invest the same energy promoting radio on those same outlets.
Greg Strassell, Wade Kingsley and Hubbard’s Brand/Content director team sprung into action to create a campaign called ‘That’s Called Radio‘. Spec spots were created at the Cincinnati cluster and given to local markets to add their own local touch. The promos now run within Gamut podcasts in the markets where Hubbard operates. Take a listen.
I’ve argued forever that the radio industry needs to market itself better. We tell advertisers that our air time can help them grow businesses yet send listeners everywhere else because social, podcasts, YouTube and other locations are considered cooler. There’s one problem though – we don’t own those channels. Our radio stations, websites, and podcasts are ours. If we don’t direct people back to what we own and do best, we only have ourselves to blame if we can’t reach our audience.
When folks take action and do something well, I like to point it out. This campaign is smart and effective. It’s something more brands and radio groups should be doing. Nice job Hubbard Radio.
The Taylor Swift Effect
Taylor Swift joined the Kelce Brothers on the New Heights Podcast last week and it was a massive success. The episode had over 18 million views as of Sunday evening. A peak of 1.3 million watched it live, causing the show’s stream to crash. Social clips have been red hot too. 379 million watched on Instagram, 61 million on X, and 34.5 million on TikTok. The “New Heights” YouTube channel added 400,000 new subscribers since the episode aired, and the show’s Instagram account has passed 3 million followers too.
A simple teaser promo dropped on Monday, August 11th, promoting an announcement from Swift about a new album. Two days later, “New Heights” was #1 on the Apple podcast charts before the episode even came out. If that’s what can be done with two-days of social promotion, what could be done with two weeks?
Swift’s appearance on New Heights provided a reminder of how much more powerful streaming is than television. That should keep executives up at night. This is how people watch most now. Could two days of TV promotion deliver the collective impact that social did? I doubt it. I am curious if Taylor’s appearance on New Heights was part of the agreement struck by Amazon with New Heights. Spending $100 million dollars for the show makes more sense when this type of impact is a part of the deal. The Hollywood Reporter may have to update its most powerful in podcasting soon especially if she shows up again.
Jason Kelce deserves credit for doing a great job guiding the conversation. Taylor doesn’t do many long-form interviews like this, and Jason’s approach got her to show a side of herself that not everyone gets to see. Couple that with her attention to detail regarding the new album announcement, and how she masterfully plants seeds for future news/content, and you can see why it was a hit. The internet is now speculating that Swift will announce plans to perform at Halftime of the 2026 Super Bowl. If she is interested, the NFL should run in her direction. Last week’s podcast appearance just reconfirmed that no artist on the planet can deliver the kind of impact that Taylor Swift does.
Toast to 10
In September, Barrett Media will celebrate ten years in business. We’re throwing The Barrett Bash in New York City on September 4th to celebrate that milestone, but in-person is not the only place where we’ll reflect on the past decade. A new series will run throughout the month of September titled Toast to 10. Look for insights from yours truly, our editors and columnists, former writers, industry guests, and more. It’ll be a fun journey down memory lane that captures what has been an exciting, challenging, and unexpected ride.
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.
Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James won’t be exchanging Christmas cards anytime soon. The two high-profile figures have been embroiled in a very public feud for months, beginning with a viral video of James confronting Smith during a Lakers timeout. Smith didn’t hold back in response the next day on First Take, openly questioning if James was “butt hurt” over his past commentaries about the NBA superstar.
What heightened the matter was James’ one-hour appearance on The Pat McAfee Show back in March following First Take on ESPN. The four-time NBA champion said that he felt Smith’s criticisms during a January episode of First Take were personal and that it was his job to “protect his damn household, but also the players.”
The summer offered a brief cooling-off period. But Smith reignited the conflict during a recent appearance on Gil’s Arena, hosted by former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas. When asked about his relationship with James, Smith flatly replied, “There is no relationship. He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him.” He went on to suggest that efforts had been made to harm his reputation during the dispute. That raises the question: Why is Smith, one of sports media’s biggest stars, fueling the drama instead of letting it go? And is he violating the cardinal rule of sports media — don’t make it personal?
First and foremost, the job of Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take is to present fact-based opinion for public consumption and debate. Earlier this year, I called him the greatest entertainer in media today. The man knows his material, studies his craft, and has developed a unique personality with precise execution of his delivery.
There’s a reason why SiriusXM, ESPN, and more are willing to work partnerships and sign contracts respectively with Smith year after year. The man attracts eyeballs, clicks, and downloads. Business is good when Stephen A. Smith is involved.
Smith Continues To Throw Wood on the Fire
What he has lacked in this dispute with James is balance and the understanding that he’s the one fueling the personal side of the conflict time after time. In this feud with James, Smith has lost balance. He’s turned the professional into the personal.
Sports media has long operated on a simple code: critique the performance, not the person. With the rise of social media and the constant demand for hot takes, that line has blurred. Smith, more than anyone, has embraced that environment — but at a cost.
Can an athlete take certain criticism personally? Sure.
To be fair, James isn’t blameless. He’s taken shots of his own, from social media jabs to the on-court confrontation and his McAfee appearance. But unlike Smith, James has largely stepped away from escalating the feud in recent months.
Sports media also has a way of handling situations: showing up, answering the phone, or making a call. That’s being professional and how you prevent things from becoming a powder keg ready for the fuse to be lit.
This is where Smith is failing to meet the standard of not making things personal.
Nice try folks. On my show, I said I would’ve swung on @KingJames had he slapped me — like lots of y’all said I was scared he would’ve done a few weeks ago. I also said immediately after that I would’ve gotten my ass thoroughly kicked by the 6’8”, 250lb Goliath, but folks just…
“People can get into all kinds of components that come with it, and all that other stuff. I have nothing to say, I’m a professional,” he said on Gil’s Arena Friday. “I represent ESPN, and now represent SiriusXM. Most importantly I represent myself. I’m never going to denigrate any employer, partner, or myself by getting into anything excessively unnecessary when it comes to him [LeBron James] or anyone else. I’m going to do my job.”
That’s a great quote by Smith. A strong statement — but one he contradicted almost immediately.
“I’m going to cover the game of basketball. If I never, ever speak to him again in life, that will be okay. I’m good with it.”
Then he went deeper, again:
“All I would say is people don’t know the things that have happened behind the scenes,” Smith said. “Things that have been said, who they’ve been said to. The kind of things that have been engaged in in an effort to hurt me, along with contemporaries and others. There’s a lot of s**t that I know that I don’t say.”
Looking at that sequence, Smith did exactly what he stated two sentences prior he wouldn’t do. Would a claim of “things happening behind the scenes” and “things that have been engaged in an effort to hurt me” be considered “getting into anything excessively unnecessary” with LeBron James?
The act of revealing these claims is exactly that—throwing more wood on the fire to create narrative and keep focus on something off the court.
Always the entertainer. That’s not professionalism. That’s entertainment.
Smith is, without question, one of the most influential voices in sports media. He’s also one of its greatest entertainers. But his ongoing feud with James is more theater than journalism — and every time he teases vague claims of “behind the scenes” efforts to undermine him, he’s not analyzing the game, he’s creating a soap opera around it.
Can We Get Back to Basketball
"I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this." 😳 @stephenasmith reacts to Bronny James' play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/bk5D0DS42N
This season could be LeBron James’ last in the NBA. He’s an absolute first-year Hall of Fame player with a résumé that stacks up among the greatest of all time. Stephen A. Smith calls him the second-best player in the history of the game, because he admires the on-the-court athlete for his résumé and impact on the game.
There will be moments this season when the Lakers and LeBron James will be discussed ad nauseam by Smith and his rotating cast of characters on First Take. Some would even consider the amount of conversation about the Lakers on the program “excessively unnecessary.”
My hope for the new season is that Smith leans more into the on-the-court discussion without the jabs he continues to aim at James’ off-the-court persona.
Can we go a day, week, or month without Smith hinting at the “man” that he considers LeBron James to be? The “man” who he claims has tried engaging in efforts to hurt him and his contemporaries? The “man” who Smith claims he would never truly reveal, but just tease those in the media enough to create plot and a conception of who James is?
That would be professional.
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.
Brian Kilmeade has made a career out of being versatile, and on Friday, he reminded Fox News viewers exactly how deep his bench goes.
Hosting FOX & Friends in the morning and then anchoring primetime coverage of Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that night, Kilmeade showed an ability to work two completely different dayparts with confidence, energy, and effectiveness.
This isn’t new for him, but it’s worth pointing out. Kilmeade has spent decades at Fox News navigating the worlds of morning television, radio, and primetime specials, sometimes within the same week. But pulling off FOX & Friends at sunrise and then commanding coverage of a historic sit-down between a former president and the Russian leader in primetime is the clearest reminder yet of why Fox continues to lean on him in critical moments.
FOX & Friends is a unique assignment. It’s upbeat, conversational, and requires the host to blend serious news with personality-driven segments. Brian Kilmeade has been a part of the show for nearly 30 years, which makes him second nature at it. He knows how to mix in lighter moments, keep pace with his co-hosts, and still drive headlines that ripple across the day’s news cycle. That’s what viewers expect out of a morning program — quick, engaging, and not bogged down by weighty analysis.
Primetime coverage of Trump and Putin, though, is an entirely different challenge. The tone is heavier, the subject matter more consequential, and the audience expects sharp, direct insight rather than lighthearted banter. On Friday night, Kilmeade had to pivot from morning charm to evening gravity, and he did it seamlessly.
The strength of Kilmeade’s performance is that he doesn’t let either role bleed into the other. He knows FOX & Friends calls for energy, relatability, and a rhythm that can handle everything from international news to the latest pop culture item. Then, when Fox News turned to him in primetime for one of the most talked-about moments of the week, he switched gears with authority, keeping the coverage serious, pointed, and focused.
That ability to shift lanes so smoothly is rare. Many television hosts thrive in one format but struggle when asked to change. A great morning show personality may never translate to primetime, where the tone is closer to a straight-laced news program. A primetime anchor may come off stiff and awkward in the loose, casual setting of morning TV. Kilmeade, though, thrives in both environments, and that’s why Fox News trusts him in these situations.
Friday night’s assignment wasn’t easy. Trump’s meeting with Putin carried enormous stakes, with reporters and commentators worldwide dissecting every detail. Kilmeade’s job was to keep the coverage sharp without losing viewers in endless speculation. He managed to guide the conversation, highlight key takeaways, and deliver the sense of urgency the moment required. It wasn’t about grandstanding or turning himself into the story. It was about understanding the gravity of what was happening and making sure Fox’s audience did, too.
The comparison to FOX & Friends earlier in the day is striking. Hours apart, the same man anchored two very different broadcasts. One segment required the relaxed, approachable Kilmeade, trading quips with co-hosts while giving viewers a smart start to their day. The other called for the authoritative, serious Kilmeade, breaking down the implications of a meeting between two of the most polarizing figures on the global stage. That range is why he’s so valuable to Fox News.
It also speaks to work ethic. Hosting FOX & Friends is already a grueling assignment. It demands early mornings, constant preparation, and the stamina to juggle multiple topics in rapid succession. Most hosts would consider that a full day’s work. Instead, Kilmeade followed it up with a primetime assignment that required a completely different mindset. That isn’t just impressive, it’s rare.
Fox News has leaned on Kilmeade in similar ways before. For instance, the day the network fired Tucker Carlson, do you know who hosted his popular program at 8 PM ET? It was Brian Kilmeade. That’s an awfully big level of trust shown.
But Friday crystallized why Fox News trusts Brian Kilmeade the way it does. He can fill virtually any role the network asks of him and do so with credibility. Whether he’s guiding viewers through the day’s headlines over coffee or handling breaking coverage late into the night, Kilmeade proves time and again he can rise to the occasion.
In an era where versatility is one of the most valuable assets a television personality can have, Brian Kilmeade is at the top of the list. He showed it again on Friday, moving from morning banter to primetime authority without missing a beat. Fox News needs people who can carry different audiences, and Kilmeade keeps proving he’s more than capable.
Friday’s double duty was the latest reminder that Brian Kilmeade isn’t defined by one show or one timeslot. He’s defined by range, adaptability, and the ability to deliver in whatever role the network throws his way. And that’s why, nearly three decades into his run, he remains one of Fox News’ most reliable and impactful voices.
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.
“Mr. Putin, will you commit to not killing any more civilians?” Simple question, asked of Russian President Vladimir Putin by ABC News’ Rachel Scott before the failed meeting with President Trump in Anchorage. He wouldn’t answer or acknowledge it, and shortly thereafter, Trump had the press removed from the room.
Finally, someone asked a real question, one which wasn’t a setup for the usual bloviating response. That Putin wouldn’t answer it spoke volumes, much more than if he’d actually answered it with anything other than the truth, which is what you get from most politicians. It wasn’t a biased question; it was just asking a dictator what he doesn’t want to acknowledge.
All political interviews should be asking questions like that. Most don’t.
The insistence of political reporters and talk show hosts on adhering to what they think are traditional journalistic standards is an interesting choice when the nation and the world are experiencing a five-alarm fire that has a considerable body count.
Because reporters don’t ask the right questions and follow up, politicians get away with, well, murder. Why doesn’t anyone ask Trump why he insists tariffs aren’t effectively taxes on American consumers who will ultimately shoulder the cost (and are already paying more at the supermarket; don’t use the “just shop at Aldi and Walmart” argument, because prices there are going up, too)? Why does Netanyahu get away without answering for the deaths of journalists, civilians, and children in Gaza?
Why isn’t anyone pressing Hakeem Jefferies on why Democratic leadership appears to be hiding rather than doing anything about what they ostensibly oppose? Where’s the questioning of Ron DeSantis about… well, anything? Why, oh why, do American reporters stand there at news conferences and ask “neutral” questions, letting the politicians off the hook when (theatrical wave across the entire world)?
Of course, the politicians won’t likely give you an honest answer, or any answer at all. So, repeat it. If someone else asked it and didn’t get an answer, ask it again. Maybe they’ll throw you out of the room, but so what? If they won’t answer questions, what’s the use of being there in the first place? Why have them on your show if there are things that are off limits?
Never, ever agree not to ask about any topic, not with politicians, not with celebrities, nobody, and never agree to submit questions in advance. No conditions. If they insist, they’re hiding something and the interview isn’t worth the trouble. Besides, it’s more interesting if a guest hangs up on you anyway.
And if someone (like the president) calls your question stupid, ask him why it’s stupid; he won’t have an answer for that.
News interviews and press conferences aren’t supposed to make anyone comfortable. That’s not your job. Your job is to get to the truth. Ask the tough questions and keep asking them until you get an answer or get ejected. You’re not anyone’s spokesperson.
There aren’t a lot of people outside of radio who understand the role of a Program Director. And there are even fewer who understand the specific role of a Classic Rock Program Director.
There is, however, one person who faces almost the exact same pressures and challenges as those running Classic Rock stations. Meet Matthew Wilkening, Editor in Chief of UltimateClassicRock.com.
I think it’s safe to say that every talent working on a Classic-based station has at one time or another gotten news, prep or inspiration from this site, so I wanted to talk with Wilkening about his vision for the content and how it’s similar or different from running a radio station in the format.
The Ever-Moving Target of Classic Rock
The first thing I learned in talking with him is that we are not alone in our endless debate about what artists fit under the banner of Classic Rock. “That’s a moving target, for sure,” says Wilkening. “It’s not so much a matter of us drawing the line as it is us trying to figure out where the line is, and what new territory we can expand into or what connections we can make to what’s going on in modern culture.” Sound familiar?
News, Content, and Staying Ahead
He explains that the site’s original task was to be a news source for Townsquare’s Classic Rock stations, so the bulk of their content is focused on the artists and songs those stations play. And since those acts are still highly active, there is a great deal of content to cover.
For example, just on the day we spoke, Joe Perry played the first show of a tour, a John Lennon boxed set was announced, and Robert Plant dropped a new song. All that hit the site before nine a.m.
Finding Fresh Angles on Familiar Stories
Beyond reporting the news, Wilkening says the team at Ultimate Classic Rock faces the same challenge as an airstaff at a Classic Rock station: finding new ways to tell the same stories, again.
“You used to be able to just have a headline such as ‘30 Years Ago: This Band Puts Out This Album’ and it would do great,” says Wilkening. “But now if you don’t have some kind of an angle in the story, you’re dead in the water.” An excellent reminder for every radio host in any format, but especially for Classic Rock. Finding a new approach to the story matters.
Finding those unique new angles, he says, is an important skill because it not only keeps longtime fans engaged but also helps cement a new generation of younger fans who continue to discover this body of music.
Longevity and Covering a Finite Group
That goes a long way to mitigating concerns that the site, or the format, will eventually run out of material. “Of course I worry! We’ve already spent about 15 years largely covering a finite group of artists,” says Wilkening.
“But so far it has proven to be an unfounded fear.” As someone who has already covered the 50th and 55th anniversaries of the Beatles releasing ‘Revolver’, Wilkening is fully planning to be around next year to cover the 60th.
Adapting to Pop Culture and Trends
I asked him for the inside scoop on what works the best for his team, hoping there might be a few tricks that Classic Rock stations can borrow. He started with the importance of being able to shift focus quickly based on pop culture.
“When the Queen movie came out a few years ago, that was pretty much all our readers wanted to read about.”
Engaging Content Beyond News
When it comes to how they cover the material, he says the site has a lot of success with interviews and that any ranking of albums, songs, or artists always stirs up discussion. But his favorite is something that most stations never do but should consider, “when we get a few writers together for a roundtable discussion on a topic. Those do very well.”
Handling Major Losses Like Ozzy Osbourne
We also took a few minutes to talk about the recent loss of Ozzy Osbourne and how his team manages an event like that. “Sadly, you have to report first and mourn later,” says Wilkening.
Talking about their process, he says they have close to sixty obituaries pre-written because in a situation like that, speed matters, and “it’s very important to us to share a detailed, in-depth tribute for somebody as important as Ozzy.”
After the initial story goes live, the focus turns to gathering reactions from the artist’s peers and looking back across their life and career. But that requires focus.
“What happens is you have 100 different things you want to say, and you have to decide what’s most important.” And then, he says, when the work is done, the mourning can begin: “Eventually, I blasted the ’Tribute’ album as loud as possible and cried a bit.”
Advice for Classic Rock Stations
Finally, I asked if Wilkening had any advice for someone operating a Classic Rock station. Overall, he thinks the Townsquare Stations, with whom he works closely, are doing a great job. Instead, his wish is that the listeners would loosen up.
“I wish classic rock radio listeners would be more receptive to new music from the bands that are already getting played on their favorite stations,” he says. “But I’ve seen the data, and the simple fact is the same person who loves “Back in Black” will change the channel if you play even an awesome AC/DC song such as “Realize” from their new album. So, like the Kinks say, you’ve gotta give the people what they want.”
A great reminder from outside our radio world: play the hits.
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.
Barrett Media has independently confirmed that Cat Thomas has exited Beasley Las Vegas.
Thomas served as OM for the cluster while also programming Hot AC 102.7 VGS KVGS and Alternative X107.5 KXTE. He has been with the cluster since the fall of 2020.
No stranger to Las Vegas radio, Thomas spent nearly three decades at Top 40 station 98.5 KLUC, where he eventually became Vice President/Programming for the then-CBS Cluster.
This follows additional recent Beasley layoffs in Boston, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
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.
