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‘Frito & Katy’ Show Joins 100.3 The Bull Houston For Mornings

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‘Frito & Katy’ Show Joins 100.3 The Bull Houston For Mornings

Tucker “Frito” Young and Katy Dempsey are the new morning co-hosts in Houston at 100.3 The Bull (KILT-FM). The show, “Frito & Katy,” is set to air on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 am (CT), starting January 10.

“The duo’s passion for relentlessly serving the local community, as well as their focus on local content on-air, is perfect for Houston,” said Sarah Frazier, Senior Vice President and Market Manager at Audacy Houston. “We can’t wait for our audience to start their days with this award-winning show.” 

Young and Dempsey were both born and raised in Texas. They have received numerous accolades, including the 2024 CMA Award for Major Market Personality, the 2021 Marconi Award, multiple Crystal Awards, and the Bonner McLane Award for Community Service from the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d wind up back in my hometown to do radio with the station I grew up listening to. We are beyond excited to work with Sarah Frazier, Melissa Chase, and all the pros at Audacy,” said Dempsey. “We can’t wait to start serving the great listeners of 100.3 The Bull and the city of Houston!”

The Duo most recently hosted mornings at Country “Y100” KCYY, San Antonio, until their recent departure. (BMM 1/6)

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.

Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki Join Amazon’s Prime Video NBA Coverage

BSM Staff
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Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki Join Amazon’s Prime Video NBA Coverage

Ahead of its inaugural season of covering the NBA, Amazon’s Prime Video division has announced that its studio show surrounding game broadcasts will include sports journalist Taylor Rooks and former NBA forwards Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin. The studio team will make its debut in October 2025 surrounding the debut of the NBA on Prime Video as the company embarks on an 11-year media rights deal with the league for a reported $1.93 billion annually. Prime Video adds the NBA to its sports portfolio, which includes the NFL, WNBA and several documentaries.

The media rights package for Amazon includes an opening week doubleheader at the start of the 2025-26 season, along with Emirates NBA Cup games in the knockout, semifinal and championship rounds, the SoFi Play-In Tournament and six Conference Finals. This new studio show will emanate from Culver City, Calif. from the Amazon MGM Studios lot, complementing the game broadcasts on Prime Video.

“We are thrilled to have Taylor, Dirk, and Blake on board as the foundation for our NBA studio coverage,” Jared Stacy, global head of production at Amazon, said in a statement. “Together they bring a mix of credibility, charisma, and unique insight on the game that will inform and entertain NBA fans starting this fall. Taylor is one of the most well respected and thoughtful people working in NBA media today, while Blake and Dirk are legends of the game ready to share their insightful analysis and sense of humor with NBA fans.”

Rooks has been working with Prime Video since the premiere of Thursday Night Football in 2022 as its features reporter on studio programming. In addition to this role, she also works as a host and reporter with Warner Bros. Discovery for its TNT Sports and Bleacher Report properties. Under her new role with Prime Video, she will bring her perspectives to pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA.

“I’m thrilled to continue to grow my role at Prime Video and help shape their NBA coverage from the ground up,” Rooks said in a statement. “With the addition of legends like Dirk and Blake, we’re not just building a show, we are crafting an experience that will be entertaining and truly special for basketball fans. This is a career milestone for me and I’m incredibly excited to share my love and passion for this game with NBA fans all over the world.”

Nowitzki, a 14-time All-Star and former NBA champion, is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Throughout his 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks, he became the leading scorer for the franchise and the first European-born player to score over 30,000 points. A member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team who retired as the sixth-highest scorer in league history, Nowitzki will lend his analysis on Prime Video beginning next season.

“I am excited to join the Amazon family and honored to be a part of its NBA coverage,” Nowitzki said in a statement. “I have always wanted to remain close to the game that I love and building something new alongside this talented crew is an experience I look forward to. I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity and cannot wait to get started.”

Griffin, the former first-overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and six-time NBA All-Star, compiled a storied career as a dominant power forward. In addition to winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2011, he was also the champion of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest where he dunked over a car. Griffin scored more than 14,000 points, 6,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists during his 14-year career with the LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.

“I’m unbelievably excited to join the Amazon family,” Griffin said in a statement. “Basketball has obviously been a huge part of my life, and I consider myself a true fan of the game. I’m excited for a new opportunity to share some of what I have learned over the years with other NBA fans. I have been incredibly impressed with Amazon’s NFL programming for Thursday Night Football, and my conversations with the team around the NBA partnership have been equally inspiring. I’m honored to be a part of this launch and a new era for Prime Video 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.

TuneIn Launches ‘Hot Mics With Billy Bush’

BMM Staff
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TuneIn Launches ‘Hot Mics With Billy Bush’

TuneIn has officially announced the launch of “Hot Mics with Billy Bush,” a new program where host Billy Bush shares his candid perspectives on pressing issues in sports, politics, entertainment, technology, and pop culture.

With 24 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Bush aims to address key topics and set the record straight from day one.

“Hot Mics” promises to be an engaging platform featuring a diverse range of influential voices, including A-list celebrities, polarizing politicians who shape today’s landscape, cultural tastemakers, prominent sports figures, and leaders from the tech industry. This program aims to provoke thought and honest discussions on current issues.

Twice a week, listeners can tune in for engaging discussions that provide an insider’s perspective on current cultural happenings. The show, “Hot Mics with Billy Bush,” premieres on Monday, January 13, offering an unfiltered look at the inspiration behind its title. Later in the week, on Wednesday, the inaugural guest will be Megyn Kelly. The program is accessible via TuneIn.

“Every week, I’ll be diving deep into culture-shaping moments, offering listeners a raw, unfiltered take on today’s biggest stories. Oh, and the only person that can cancel me is me,” said Billy, reflecting on his newfound freedom. 

Billy has dedicated his career to interviewing some of the most prominent celebrities and cultural icons. He served as a primary anchor on Access Hollywood for over a decade before transitioning to the Today Show as a co-host in 2016. Currently, he holds the position of sole anchor for the syndicated television program EXTRA.

“Billy brings years of on-air radio and entertainment experience that sets the stage for a highly engaging show,” said Rich Stern, CEO of TuneIn. “TuneIn is an ideal distribution partner with a built-in audience for content creators who care about producing high-quality content and entertaining listening experiences.”

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.

First Episode of ESPN’s Jason Kelce Late Night Show Posts Disappointing Viewership Figures

BSM Staff
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First Episode of ESPN’s Jason Kelce Late Night Show Posts Disappointing Viewership Figures

According to one sports media insider, Jason’s Kelce’s new ESPN show isn’t off to a hot start. John Ourand of Puck revealed today via X that the first episode of They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce attracted a meager 290,000 viewers.

This number is down from the 436,000 viewers from the same time last year and way down from the 700,000 viewers the timeslot had following the Indiana-Notre Dame College Football Playoff game. Regardless, Ourand says, comps are tough and ESPN is happy to be in business with Jason Kelce no matter what the numbers show. 

In November, Kelce and ESPN agreed to terms on a five-episode test run for They Call it Late Night in addition to Kelce’s “Monday Night Football” obligations. The show promised to be a “personality-driven, one-hour program” but critics found the show to be stiff and overly scripted. 

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the show still has four more episodes to go. They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce airs Saturdays at 1 a.m. EST on ESPN. 

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.

Erick Erickson, Guy Benson Add Dozens of Affiliates After The Daily Wire Shows Leave Westwood One

BNM Staff
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Erick Erickson, Guy Benson Add Dozens of Affiliates After The Daily Wire Shows Leave Westwood One

Shows from The Daily Wire ended their run in national syndication with Westwood One. Erick Erickson and Guy Benson have picked up several new affiliates in the wake.

After The Ben Shapiro Show, The Matt Walsh Show, and The Michael Knowles Show ended their run in national syndication on December 31st, many stations were left looking for new programming for the three hours The Daily Wire shows previously occupied.

For The Erick Erickson Show, the new affiliates bring his total up to 56 stations carrying his program that originates from 95.5 WSB in Atlanta and is distributed by Compass Media Networks.

The show will now be broadcast live in its 12-3 PM ET timeslot on KROF in Lafayette, Louisiana. It has also been added to the lineup at KBYR (Anchorage), KLOO (Corvallis), WDBT (Dothan), KSLM (Salem, Oregon), KSUE (Susanville, California), and WTNY (Watertown, New York).

Additionally, Erickson’s show has been added to the SuperTalk Mississippi network, which includes:

  • WRQO (Brookhaven)
  • WXRZ (Corinth)
  • WTCD (Greenwood)
  • WOSM (Gulfport)
  • WFMM (Hattiesburg)
  • WFMN (Jackson)
  • WLAU (Laurel)
  • WZKR (Meridian)
  • WTNM (Oxford)
  • WKBB (Starkville)
  • WMPK (Summit)
  • WFTA (Tupelo)

On Monday, The Guy Benson Show — which, like The Daily Wire shows, is distributed by Westwood One — announced a bevy of new affiliates.

The show picked up affiliates at stations like 790 KABC (Los Angeles), AM 700 KSEV (Houston), WLS-AM 890 (Chicago), and WJR 760 (Detroit), and KBOI (Boise). Guy Benson was also added to the daily lineup at KCMO Talk Radio in Kansas City in October.

Other newly announced affiliates include:

  • 1480 KYOS (Merced, California)
  • 910 WSBA (York, Pennsylvania)
  • 980 WXLM (New London, Connecticut)
  • 1440 KMAJ (Topeka, Kansas)
  • 590 WVLK (Lexington, Kentucky)
  • 1490 WOSH (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
  • 1310 WLOB (Portland, Maine)
  • 580 KMJ (Fresno, California)
  • 1250 WTMA (Charleston, South Carolina)
  • 107.9 KAOX (Shelley, Idaho)
  • 99.5 KUPY (Sugar City, Idaho)

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.

Voice Actor Steve Stone Launches ‘AUDITORY FX’ Custom Audio Branding Tools

BMM Staff
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Voice Actor Steve Stone Launches ‘AUDITORY FX’ Custom Audio Branding Tools

Voice Actor Steve Stone has launched Auditory FX, making available custom audio branding tools created for his own use, and now, making them available for your station’s use.

“While I spend my days in the booth as a voiceover artist, I’ve also been involved in audio production and sound design for over thirty years in radio, TV, podcasting, and social media. It’s a core part of my creative identity,” Stone said.

The FX Library is called PROTOCOL 1.

Stone added, “It’s a massive 325 tracks of elite sonic branding tools. Perfect for radio imaging, podcast production, social media, and any project where you want to create an audio identity. It’s the stuff I use every day, and I am very picky.”

“The last few months, I have sent out the PROTOCOL 1 library to friends in radio, TV, and the podcast world for feedback. I’m thankful that my friends are using it with enthusiastic response, and now the world has access to it.”

PROTOCOL 1 is available as a digital download at a $149.00 USD buyout.

Barrett Media readers are offered exclusive discounts when using the promo code “MVP30.”

Stone added, “I also have my original collaboration with Justin Dove and Core Image Studio, “SONIC SURVIVAL KITS V1,” available for a $69.00 USD buyout.”

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.

Facebook Ending Third-Party Fact-Checking, Moves to Community Notes

BNM Staff
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Facebook Ending Third-Party Fact-Checking, Moves to Community Notes

Facebook has announced it will end its use of third-party fact-checkers and will instead utilize a similar system to the Community Notes enacted by the X platform.

In a video published Tuesday, founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed the move, stating the platform will lift restrictions on certain topics, and will take a more personalized approach to political content.

“When we launched our independent fact-checking program in 2016, we were very clear that we didn’t want to be the arbiters of truth,” Facebook Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan wrote in a blog post. “We made what we thought was the best and most reasonable choice at the time, which was to hand that responsibility over to independent fact checking organizations. The intention of the program was to have these independent experts give people more information about the things they see online, particularly viral hoaxes, so they were able to judge for themselves what they saw and read.

“That’s not the way things played out, especially in the United States. Experts, like everyone else, have their own biases and perspectives. This showed up in the choices some made about what to fact check and how. Over time we ended up with too much content being fact checked that people would understand to be legitimate political speech and debate. Our system then attached real consequences in the form of intrusive labels and reduced distribution. A program intended to inform too often became a tool to censor.   

“We are now changing this approach. We will end the current third party fact checking program in the United States and instead begin moving to a Community Notes program. We’ve seen this approach work on X – where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see. We think this could be a better way of achieving our original intention of providing people with information about what they’re seeing – and one that’s less prone to bias.”

Facebook has been criticized — especially by prominent conservatives — for its fact-checking and content moderation policies in recent years.

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.

B106.7 Columbia SC Launches First Local Morning Show In Seven Years

BMM Staff
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B106.7 Columbia SC Launches First Local Morning Show In Seven Years

Cumulus AC B106.7 WTCB in Columbia, SC, is set to launch its first live and local morning show in seven years.

“The Midlands Morning Show” will air weekdays from 6 to 11 am (ET), hosted by midday personality Kaylin Mozdzen and Operations Manager/Program Director Leo “LB” Baldwin.

RVP/Market Manager Tammy O’Dell said, “We’re excited to launch this vibrant morning show for the Midlands audience. Kaylin and LB will bring energy, fun, and great music LIVE and LOCAL for our B106.7 audience every morning. It’s a great way to wake up in the Midlands and an excellent opportunity for our local business community to connect with this audience.”

Mozdzen, named the 2024 SC Broadcasters Association Radio Personality of the Year, will continue her B106.7 midday shift while also taking on the role of AM co-host. Meanwhile, Baldwin will transition from afternoons to the morning slot.

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.

GoFundMe Launched For Former KGO Host Ronn Owens After Several Health Challenges

BNM Staff
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GoFundMe Launched For Former KGO Host Ronn Owens After Several Health Challenges

For nearly 50 years, Ronn Owens was a fixture at KGO 810 in the Bay Area. During his tenure, he was never shy about the medical issues he had faced. He’s now opening up on social media with a GoFundMe launched to help offset the financial burdens the health challenges have caused.

In 2014, Owens shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease earlier in life. However, in a social media post, the longtime radio host shared that he had been diagnosed with cancer four times, had most recently beaten colon cancer, and was also undergoing serious heart issues.

“It’s been a rough road, and honestly, it’s hard to admit that the financial strain has become overwhelming on top of everything else,” Owens said in the social media post asking for support. “For 48 years, I poured my heart into KGO, sharing stories, sparking conversations, and connecting with you all. I never imagined I’d be in this position, but here I am, asking for a little help from the community that has meant so much to me.”

Owens is a member of both the Radio Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2015, and the Bay Area Hall of Fame.

During an interview with The Mercury News, Owens’ wife Jan Black revealed that Owens has also battled pneumonia and COVID-19 in recent years, and was given six months to live at one point before returning to better health. However, the couple’s medical insurance hasn’t covered all of the expenses and Owens needs an in-home caregiver.

“It truly was a last resort,” she shared.

The GoFundMe account originally featured a $60,000 goal. When that was surpassed, the goal was raised to $100,000, with the page approaching that new goal.

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.

St. Louis Blues Partnering with Gray Media to Broadcast Three Regular-Season Games

BSM Staff
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The St. Louis Blues organization has agreed to a deal to present three regular-season games over-the-air on various Gray Media-affiliated stations across the Midwest, including First Alert 4 (KMOV-TV) and Matrix Midwest. The partnership between the team and media conglomerate will reach more than 4.8 million television households in the region for games down the stretch run, expanding accessibility to these contests to view the games utilizing an antenna, along with cable, satellite and streaming providers.

Blues games are typically televised on the FanDuel Sports Network West RSN owned by Main Street Sports Group, a company that recently emerged from Ch. 11 bankruptcy. Yet these contests will not be simulcast on the regional sports network, marking the first time in 15 years that Blues games will be available for free to fans on local broadcast television. FanDuel Sports Network on-air talent and production crew members will be retained to produce the games airing over the air on Gray Media stations, along with pregame and postgame coverage.

“Considering our long-standing relationship with Gray Media and their presence across the Midwest, they are a perfect partner to help us explore our broadcasting options as part of our ongoing efforts to grow our reach among existing and future Blues fans,” Chris Zimmerman, president and chief executive officer of business operations for the St. Louis Blues, said in a statement. “The opportunity to deliver a package of local Blues broadcasts through over-the-air television was a valuable addition to our latest broadcast agreement with FanDuel Sports Network that we look forward to leveraging with these games on KMOV, Matrix Midwest and the Gray Media multi-state affiliate network.”

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the matchup between the Blues and Winnipeg Jets will air on KMOV and Matrix Midwest in St. Louis. A few weeks later when the Blues face the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, March 8, the game will also air on these over-the-air channels. Concluding the three-game slate is a Tuesday night matchup against the Montréal Canadiens on March 25. All games will also air on a variety of affiliates in Kansas City, Springfield, Cape Girardeau and Cedar Rapids among other cities. Local listings will provide precise information pertaining to these over-the-air broadcasts.

“As a life-long St. Louisan and Blues fan, it’s truly exciting to bring these games to our local platforms once again for our viewers,” JD Sosnoff, vice president and general manager of KMOV-TV and Matrix Midwest said in a statement.

Although the transaction involves three regular-season games, this follows a trend of more professional sports organizations offering broadcasts on over-the-air television. Before the NHL season commenced, the Anaheim Ducks announced that 65 games would be broadcast over-the-air in Los Angeles. The Seattle Kraken joined TEGNA last year to carry games on broadcast television in the Seattle region, and Scripps Sports broadcasts games for the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Hockey Club and Florida Panthers.

“Partnerships like this with major sports franchises locally and across the country show Gray Media’s dedication to our community,” Mike King, senior managing vice president and chief marketing officer for Gray Media, said in a statement. “What a win for St. Louis and the entire region.”

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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