After the retirement of Hartley Adkins, iHeartMedia didn’t need to look far for his replacement, as Ann Marie Licata has been tabbed to succeed him.
Licata currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Sales Operations and Client Success for iHeartMedia. Beginning on September 1st, she’ll transition to the title of President of Markets Group and Sales Operations. Hartley Adkins spent 32 years with the company in a variety of roles.
In a statement to employees, iHeartMedia Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman and President/COO/CFO Rich Bressler spoke highly of Licata upon her elevation.
“Ann Marie has proven to be an exceptional leader at iHeart in every role she’s held,” the pair said. “We look forward to her applying that leadership skill, with the rigor of data and analytics, to make a major and positive impact.”
Additionally, Bernie Weiss has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of the Markets Group. He is currently the Division President of the Northeast and Chicago Division. Meanwhile, Southern California Division President Paul Corvino will be elevated to a new role focusing on business development for iHeartMedia.
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.
Former NBC News correspondent Dasha Burns is joining C-SPAN as host of the new Ceasefire show that the network will begin later this year.
Burns departed NBC News earlier this year to join Politico as its White House bureau chief and Playbook chief correspondent. She also hosts a podcast — The Conversation — for the digital outlet. She’ll remain in those roles in addition to hosting the new C-SPAN program.
“C-SPAN has a respected, credible, and non-partisan brand which matches my approach to political reporting and the mission of Politico,” said Burns. “As polarized as this country may seem, Ceasefire will show that we can still work together as a nation to find common ground.
“I am looking forward to hosting this unique program and pushing people out of their comfort zones to move beyond partisan acrimony,” she added. “There is nothing like it on TV today.”
“Dasha Burns is the perfect person to host Ceasefire,” added C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist. “She is a terrific interviewer, moderator, and one of the principal drivers of the political conversation in Washington today.
“Dasha’s non-partisan approach to her well-sourced reporting is what makes her an ideal fit for C-SPAN. Dasha Burns is the right person at the right time,” Feist concluded.
The new weekly show will debut later this fall.
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.
Former ESPN personality Marcellus Wiley believes Shannon Sharpe’s split with ESPN wasn’t about the civil lawsuit filed against him—it was about how Sharpe handled it in public view. On his Hydration Situation podcast, Wiley offered a candid and detailed breakdown of what he believes led to ESPN’s decision to part ways with the Hall of Fame tight end.
In Wiley’s view, Sharpe’s attempt to control the narrative—rather than quietly settle or stay silent—ended up being the fatal mistake.
“If he would have settled, it would have just been money that he would have lost,” Wiley said. “Now it cost him money, reputation, and opportunity—which turns into more money.”
According to Wiley, ESPN likely weighed the value Sharpe brought as a ratings driver against the growing cloud of controversy surrounding him. “This dude draws ratings, this dude is box office,” Wiley admitted. “But now not only did he get accused, everything is out there. This is messy, this is dirty, this is nasty. Then old stuff started popping up, and it just started snowballing.”
Wiley emphasized that leaks or direct social media activity began to reveal information about the accuser, including past behaviors and private communications. That aggressive posture, in Wiley’s analogy, was like sending the offense on the field when Sharpe should have deferred and relied on defense.
“Leaking out text messages. Leaking out things about her character, her name, her OnlyFans—that’s why ESPN had to cut ties with him,” Wiley said while stating that the general public he feels doesn’t read details in lawsuits filed. “The devilish details would’ve been lost on the public—except Shannon sent the offense on the field instead of the defense, and we saw what happened.”
He added that many casual observers consume legal allegations primarily through summaries on TikTok or social media instead of reading full court filings. “People are looking for a summation,” he noted, implying that Sharpe’s public counters were more damaging than helpful.
Wiley also acknowledged the cultural shift surrounding accusations, pointing out that audiences no longer immediately equate accusations with guilt. Still, he maintained that Sharpe’s response left a lasting stain. “It wasn’t even like the cover-up was worse than the crime—it was his response to the allegation that was worse than the allegations themselves.”
Ultimately, Wiley didn’t write Sharpe off. “Shannon ain’t dead. Not even close,” he said. “He will survive. He will continue to thrive.”
But he ended with a warning against the current social media culture. “This addiction to being validated, to being liked, to being followed—don’t put it out unless you know it’s gonna put it out.”
ESPN has not released any comment on Sharpe’s exit from the network.
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.
Penske Entertainment and FOX Corporation have entered into a landmark partnership that signals a new chapter for North American open-wheel racing. FOX has acquired a one-third ownership stake in Penske Entertainment—parent of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—marking a strategic investment in both the media and business future of the sport.
The move, announced Thursday, deepens FOX’s involvement in motorsports and coincides with a multi-year extension of INDYCAR’s media rights deal with FOX Sports. The network took over broadcast rights this season and has already delivered a sizable boost in exposure and viewership for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
“This partnership is built on long-standing trust and a shared vision for the future,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation. “FOX sees the incredible potential across our sport and wants to play an active role in building our growth trajectory. Lachlan Murdoch and his team, starting with Eric Shanks, are committed to our success and will bring incredible energy and innovation to INDYCAR.”
The 2025 INDYCAR season has already seen significant momentum under FOX’s media umbrella. Viewership is up 31 percent year-over-year. The major highlight of the Indianapolis 500, which drew 7.01 million viewers—a 17-year high and a 41 percent increase over last year’s edition.
“We’re thrilled to join the INDYCAR ownership group at such a pivotal time for the sport,” said FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks. “INDYCAR represents everything we value in live sports — passionate fans, iconic venues, elite competition, and year-round storytelling potential. This investment underscores our commitment to motorsports and our belief in INDYCAR’s continued growth on and off the track.”
Beyond broadcast reach, the partnership promises a robust push into digital engagement, immersive content, and next-level driver promotion. INDYCAR has already made strides in that arena, launching a new app, website, fantasy platform, and surpassing 1 million new social media followers.
The series will also continue to innovate on the event side. A new street race in Arlington, Texas is slated for 2026 as part of a joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, aimed at blending sports, entertainment, and community engagement.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES remains the only premier North American motorsport with all races airing on network television. The series returns to action with the Grand Prix of Portland on Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.
As for the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it remains the crown jewel of the Penske Entertainment portfolio, drawing over 300,000 fans for this year’s Indianapolis 500—still the largest single-day spectator sporting event in the world.
Fox Corporation Acquires One-Third Interest in Penske Entertainment.
Strategic Investment and Partnership Launches New Era of Growth Across INDYCAR that Includes a Multi-Year Extension of INDYCAR’s Media Rights with FOX Sports.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
WBAL NewsRadio has announced the appointment of Angelette Aviles as the station’s new afternoon drive host.
Aviles is no stranger to the Baltimore news/talk station. She has hosted a weekend program since early last year.
Previously, she has worked as a columnist at the Baltimore Sun newspaper, where her commentary was featured on outlets like Fox News and Univision. She also spent time working in the marketing and communications realms.
“As WBAL celebrates its 100th year on the air, I’m incredibly honored to join this legacy of broadcasting and to bring my voice to Maryland’s afternoon drive,” said Aviles. “This show will be about real conversations local, national, cultural—I’m excited to connect with listeners every day.”
Angelette Aviles replaces Torrey Snow, who exited the station in June after spending more than five years as part of the daily lineup at WBAL.
“We’re excited for Angelette to bring a fresh perspective to WBAL weekday afternoons from 2 PM to 6 PM,” said WBAL Director of Programming Jeff Wade. “In a fast-moving news cycle, listeners can count on her to keep them updated on the latest local and national news stories while giving them singular insight and reaction.”
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 is leaning into the storytelling power of youth sports with the upcoming debut of Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024, a feature documentary set to premiere Monday, Aug. 12. The film will be available to stream immediately after its linear debut on ESPN+.
Directed by Emmy Award winner Rudy Valdez (The Sentence, Breakaway), the film chronicles the emotional highs and lows of one of America’s most beloved youth sporting events — the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The film is produced by Imagine Documentaries, the company led by Hollywood heavyweights Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, along with Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios in association with MLB Studios.
“There’s something truly special about Williamsport in the summer — a kind of innocence, joy, and unshakable hope for the kids and families,” Valdez said in a statement. “This isn’t just a baseball film — it’s about the nerves, the triumphs, and the bonds made that help us all realize sports can shape people’s lives in incredible ways.”
The project captures the heart and soul of what has become an 80-year tradition in a small Pennsylvania town where dreams are realized and lifelong memories are forged. From intense game moments to unfiltered camaraderie between players, Big Dreams showcases the full spectrum of emotion that defines the Little League experience.
The film provides an intimate look at 20 teams from 11 countries and 10 U.S. states, including standout stories from World Series Champions Lake Mary (Fla.) LL, International Champions Kuei-Shan LL (Chinese Taipei), Matamoros (Mexico) LL, and Hinsdale (Ill.) LL.
Elizabeth DiLullo Brown, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer for Little League, praised the documentary for capturing the essence of the global event.
“Williamsport is where it all began for Little League some 85 years ago,” Brown said. “This film brings back all the memories that teams feel when they make it to the biggest stage in youth sports. It represents so much more than the outcome of the game.”
Produced by a team including Marc Gilbar, Meredith Kaulfers, Rudy Valdez, Tim Wheeler, and Marquis Daisy, the film positions ESPN as more than just a sports network — but also a home for emotionally resonant storytelling.
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.
As Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s role with the Indiana Fever grows more prominent on and off the court, her brand is taking a major leap in the digital media world.
The veteran WNBA guard is teaming up with Colin Cowherd’s The Volume to cohost a new weekly podcast titled Show Me Something. The podcast debuted Wednesday and will pair Cunningham with longtime friend and Summer House personality West Wilson. The two cohosts, both natives of Columbia, Missouri, plan to blend sports, pop culture, and lifestyle conversation, featuring notable guests from across entertainment and athletics.
“It’s an exciting time for the WNBA, and we’re thrilled to grow The Volume’s portfolio with a show that celebrates women’s sports, pop culture, and friendship,” said Dane Aagaard, chief revenue officer of The Volume said to Front Office Sports.
The partnership comes during what has been a breakout summer for Cunningham, whose visibility has skyrocketed since joining forces with rookie sensation Caitlin Clark in Indiana. The Fever have been one of the league’s most talked-about franchises, thanks in large part to Clark’s popularity and Cunningham’s physical, outspoken presence.
Her viral moment came in June, when she stood up for Clark during a scuffle with the Connecticut Sun’s Jacy Sheldon and Lindsay Allen. The altercation turned Cunningham into a fan favorite and protective enforcer, a narrative she hasn’t shied away from.
In the debut episode of Show Me Something, Cunningham doubled down on her support of Clark, addressing critics who push back against the notion that Clark is the face of the league.
“It really pisses me off,” she said. “When people try to argue that she’s not the face of our league, or that our league would be where we’re at without her, you’re dumb as s**t. You’re literally dumb as f***.”
Cunningham, now in her seventh WNBA season and first with the Fever, is averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds across 22 appearances. After spending six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, she’s also enjoying a major bump in marketability, signing endorsement deals with Arby’s and Adidas. Her social media presence is also booming, with over 1 million followers on both TikTok and Instagram.
The Volume’s decision to spotlight Cunningham adds another sports-forward, personality-driven voice to its growing network, which already includes media figures like Draymond Green, and Richard Sherman.
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.
Shannon Sharpe broke his silence last night that he will not be returning to ESPN, just months after stepping away from the network as a featured personality on First Take. The network decided to cut Sharpe just weeks following a civil lawsuit filed against former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe being settled outside of court.
In a personal message to fans on his NightCap podcast Wednesday evening, Sharpe said he learned of ESPN’s decision earlier in the week and had hoped for a delay in making the news public to avoid overshadowing a major moment for his family. His brother, Sterling Sharpe, is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class this weekend.
“I really wanted it to be about him, and I wanted it to be about my family” Sharpe said in a video shared online. “I know this coming out would overshadow everything that he’s worked his entire life for, and unfortunately it didn’t happen that way.”
Sharpe spoke emotionally about the moment, expressing gratitude to his brother and to the audience that has followed him across multiple platforms throughout his post-playing career.
“[Sterling] said, ‘Bro, stop apologizing. You don’t have to apologize. I’m your big bro. I’m going to love you regardless,’” Sharpe recounted. “So bro, again, I know you told me I don’t have to apologize, but I’m going to do it one final time tonight.”
While Sharpe didn’t speak directly about the lawsuit, his comments suggested an understanding of ESPN’s decision.
“They did what they felt they needed to do, and I’m at peace with that,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time at ESPN. It gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me, to let them see me grow.”
Sharpe joined ESPN in 2023 after leaving FS1’s Undisputed, where he had co-hosted alongside Skip Bayless. His presence on First Take quickly made an impact, with many praising the chemistry between Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith and the fresh perspective he brought to the show.
The Hall of Famer ended his statement with appreciation for fans who’ve supported him throughout his media journey — from Undisputed to Club Shay Shay, and most recently, ESPN.
“Thank you to all my fans for supporting me,” Sharpe said.
No formal statement has yet been issued by ESPN regarding Sharpe’s exit.
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.
Any time I can include Sydney Sweeney in a RockTernative piece, I will.
Sure, it’s good for SEO, but there’s a powerful reminder here.
Many at Radio have forgotten the lost art of, or the importance of, topicality.
I’m not talking about ripping and reading today’s headlines or reviewing last night’s hottest new show on Netflix. That’s not being topical. That’s not creating. That’s clinging to the backs of others.
What I’m getting at is being in the moment and creating your own topical victories.
We are witnessing two master classes in very effective uses of topicality.
American Eagle and Sydney SweeneyHas Great Jeans ads
Astronomer hiring Gwyneth Paltrow as a temporary spokesperson
Both Brilliant. Both CMOs will be getting big job offers.
While much of today’s content has gravitated towards being more evergreen for revenue longevity, the right topicality is a flamethrower that can:
Be urgent and cut through
Go viral
Drive traffic
Help build brands & be its own strategy
American Eagle/Sydney Sweeney:
Just last month, American Eagle was a classic mall brand — but now it feels modern, young, and cool again.
They would have released new Fall or back-to-school jeans anyway, but by being topical and attaching themselves to the latest “it girl,” they upped the ante and repositioned competitors into the “blah, blah, blah, jeans” category.
This campaign smashes all the boxes above. And if not for this genius move, sadly, a lot of girls would be rolling into Fall with forgettable denim.
Image YouTube Screen Capture
Astronomer/Gwyneth Paltrow:
Equal parts humor and irony. 100% brilliant. Up until the infamous Coldplay concert, had anyone heard of this company? I would have guessed they wrote horoscopes that no one reads.
Astronomer took the affair heard ‘round the galaxy, added a connected celebrity, and used it to remind clients the brand can be trusted and to educate everyone else about what the company does.
Astronomer could have gone quiet, and hoped business didn’t collapse or that they didn’t become a perennial meme.
But they didn’t.
Astronomer was bold. Owned the moment in a classic way. And now everyone knows they aren’t peddling horoscopes or trying to predict lotto numbers.
Back when I started in Active Rock Radio, the PD (Bob Richards) held daily meetings on topicality:
What does our audience care about today and tomorrow?
What’s happening in the city this week, next week, next month?
What does the morning show need to be zeroed in on and prepared for?
Where does the street team need to be (outside of sales appearances)?
There are some that still use topicality as a primary weapon, but its importance is missing in many meetings and has fallen off priority lists.
This can be attributed to syndication, voice tracking and the elimination of so many jobs and street teamers at many clusters. But that’s not enough for everyone to be let off the hook.
If you run a company full of empty clusters, it’s now your job to make sure brands are plugged in or they’ll become out of touch and forgettable.
If you’re a content creator and talent — live, local, national or tracked — there’s no reason you can’t be topical and truly tapped into what your audience cares about.
If you’re a digital marketer and your main focus is how to make the register to win banner look good or the sales-based social posts tighter, a recalibration is needed
Don’t ever lose sight of core brand messages, but the audience will positively react to the right topical efforts.
It’s not about budgets.
From big budgets to peanuts. Being topically effective is an art form and can be its own strategy.
Do we want to be in the moment and part of the larger conversation or not?
How’d the brand handle Ozzy’s passing?
Bad weather in the city, do something with it.
NFL is starting up, what’s the game plan?
Back to school, what’s in the backpack?
Topicality. Carpe diem. Zeitgeist stuff. It matters.
RockTernative used to own these kinds of moments. Howard crashing the VMAs, the local show becoming Mayor for a day, staying live on-air until the team finally won. That immediacy made a brand feel alive.
So yeah, I found a way to write about American Eagle, Sydney Sweeney, and Gwyneth Paltrow and make it make sense for Rock radio. It’ll probably pull more eyeballs than another post about dayparting strategies.
Whatchya got on deck tomorrow?
Chase the moment. Own 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.
Last year, the Chicago Cubs, in partnership with 670 The Score and several other partners, announced a collaboration to raise funds for cancer research through various events and dubbed the effort “Cubs for a Cure.” The multi-day charity drive featured an auction of game-used gear, a special Cubs Charities 50/50 raffle, and a 24-hour radiothon hosted by 670 The Score host Danny Parkins and all talent from the radio station.
The result of last year’s inaugural efforts combined to raise over one million dollars, with every cent going to cancer research — over $550,000 of which was raised by the radiothon hosted by Parkins. Today, the second annual “Cubs for a Cure” radiothon kicks off as Parkins returns to his hometown to be the guiding voice raising funds once again.
“Make it bigger than it was last year,” Parkins said of the goal of this year’s radiothon. “I think the more years we do it, I think the sky is the limit. Not to be overly braggadocious on it, but I’m very proud of the fact that 100% of it goes to cancer research. We have no overhead — everything is donated.”
Parkins is no stranger to finding avenues to help his community. In June of 2021, Parkins led an effort to raise over $650,000 to start a nonprofit supermarket on the West Side of Chicago, supporting former Chicago Bears linebacker Sam Acho’s charity, “Athletes for Justice.” Those efforts were noticed by Chicago Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney, and the collaboration was born.
“The radiothon is a massive undertaking, but having a partner like the Cubs behind it — that was the holy bleep moment,” Parkins noted.
A Personal Tie That Bonds Forever
The collaboration jump-started access to sponsorships, unique auction items, guest interviews, and donation incentives for the radiothon. The first year was a massive success, raising money for cancer research in honor of Parkins’ late brother, Brad, who passed away in 2023 following his bout with glioblastoma. Parkins dedicated last year’s radiothon in his brother’s memory and is honored to be returning for a second year to host on his former sports radio home of 670 The Score.
“[Audacy Chicago market manager] Kevin Cassidy said the door is always open for your return,” said Parkins. “Given how much my brother meant to me and my whole family. Given that it had taken years of equity in the market to get 670 The Score to turn over 24 hours of airtime basically to me — to program and produce fundraising efforts for the charity that I’m on the board of directors of in my brother’s honor, and have the Cubs sign off on it — a team who hired my brother’s childhood best friend to be their manager [Craig Counsell], it was just not something that I was willing to let go of easily.”
Coincidentally, the final show Parkins would host on 670 The Score was the final day of the telethon. Joined by colleagues and family as he signed off for a final time in 2024, Parkins moved on to join FOX Sports for what became a morning program entitled Breakfast Ball.
“It’s one of the craziest radio endings — as a student of the industry — that I can remember. People don’t get goodbye shows in radio,” explained Parkins. “Not only did I get to do the goodbye show and celebrate the Parkins & Spiegel Show, but then I got to come back the next day and raise $554,000 in my brother’s honor.”
While his career path took him from Chicago to New York, the importance of what the “Cubs for a Cure” radiothon meant to him loomed large. So much so, he insisted that his new contract with FOX Sports include a clause allowing him to return and host the effort annually.
“It wasn’t like a hard negotiation. FOX Sports was an instant ‘yes,’” said Parkins. “It was something that I talked about with them before I signed on the dotted line because it was important to me.”
How Parkins Remained Focused on the Radiothon
Parkins admitted that setting up this year’s edition of the “Cubs for a Cure” radiothon has been his focus for the past couple of months. He labeled himself a “control freak” when it comes to setting up guests, sponsors, donation incentives, and other items for the radiothon — along with his team — keeping focus on ensuring the event will repeat the smashing success of the previous one and more.
When news came that Parkins’ program Breakfast Ball on FS1 had been canceled, Parkins remained focused on the radiothon. He said he didn’t have any downtime because of his focus on the event, while the outside world was discussing what would become of FS1 and FOX Sports’ next move.
“The radiothon for about three months out of the year is like a second full-time job because I do something for it every day,” said Parkins. “I was not golfing and taking an extra vacation. I was just allocating my time.”
Breakfast Ball on FS1 lasted less than a year at the network as Parkins joined former WFAN radio host Craig Carton and NFL on FOX analyst Mark Schlereth. It was Parkins’ first full-time job in television, in which he says he learned a lot about the medium — despite his belief that the skill sets for both are more intertwined than ever.
“I’ll always see myself as a radio guy. I love radio. It has helped me in TV tremendously,” noted Parkins. “I think going from radio to TV is so much easier than going from TV to radio. I’ll always consider myself a radio guy, even if I do TV for the next 30 years.”
Parkins said he enjoyed working with Carton and Schlereth during their time on Breakfast Ball. He said he learned a lot from both talents while building relationships together in New York City.
“They were awesome. They’ve both done so much more TV than I had. I learned just a lot about how you go to makeup, and how you talk over video — the very basic mechanics of doing TV,” said Parkins, who noted it was also his first voyage in hosting mornings. “Craig could not have been more welcoming as ‘Mr. New York,’ and Schlereth could not have been cooler — for two months, my constant in New York. I learned a lot, but more importantly than what I learned, it was just cool to work with those guys.”
What The Future Holds For Parkins
With Breakfast Ball now gone — along with the cancellations of The Facility and Speak — the network had to decide on its future programming plans moving into football season. FOX Sports decided to align in a content partnership with Barstool Sports, where the digital content company will house and produce a two-hour program to air in place of Breakfast Ball and repeat in place of The Facility, leading into the network’s presentation of The Herd w/Colin Cowherd.
Parkins said he’s rooting for everyone to be successful and produce great content because successful shows make for a successful network. He referenced that he knows a bunch of the Barstool Sports staff, who are based in Chicago, and says he’s looking forward to watching the program they create.
As for Parkins’ future with FS1, it was announced that he will be a new part of a new hour on FS1’s First Things First beginning this fall, alongside his longtime friend Nick Wright.
“I think that Nick [Wright], Kevin Wildes, and Chris Broussard have the best chemistry and the best show on sports television today. When I have filled in for any of them or as a guest, I’d like to think that the chemistry hasn’t skipped a beat. That’s because of my chemistry with Nick,” said Parkins. “I think when they were trying to expand the best show on TV, the thing that everybody says they love about First Things First is ‘we love the chemistry.’ I was in a unique position to be able to ensure that nothing would get messed up with that chemistry.”
Parkins, 38, has experienced what many would consider a full career already before the age of 40. He’s risen from hosting in Kansas City, made a trek home to Chicago, and elevated to a daily national television program — on top of being a top fill-in host for Colin Cowherd. Many in the industry would consider those career achievements, but Parkins still hungers for more.
“I want to be as successful at TV as I was at radio, if not more so. The more you know, the more,” said Parkins. “I’m ambitious and very competitive when it comes to my career. I don’t in any way feel like I’ve reached the pinnacle. I want to be as successful at TV as I was in radio, and I want the radiothon to be a lasting legacy in Chicago for my brother.”
To donate to the “Cubs for a Cure” charity effort, you can make your donation here.
Congrats to our friend @DannyParkins for being named @Barrett_Media's 2025 recipient of "The Champions Award"!
The Score, @Cubs, @SU2C & Danny teamed up to raise over $1M during the "Cubs for a Cure" Weekend last August, including the 24-hour radiothon.https://t.co/5vT2qzmgOR
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.
