Gene Wojciechowski, the longtime ESPN college football writer and feature reporter for its College GameDay program, revealed on social media this past Friday that it was his last day on the company books.
Wojciechowski, who was reportedly laid off by ESPN two years ago and announced that June 30, 2023 was his final day with the network, posted on social media expressing his gratitude to several members of the company both past and present.
“After 27 1/2 yrs, my official last day on the ESPN books,” Wojciechowski wrote in a post on X. “Owe 1,000 thanks, but forever grateful to J Skipper, J Papanek, Steve Wulf, P Stiegman, Lee Fitting, Mike McQuade, D Kraft, Joe W, @KirkHerbstreit , @ReceDavis , Tom Rinaldi, @Jimmyggg44, @cbfowler +every editor/prod/crew.”
Wojciechowski first joined ESPN in 1998 where he contributed to its football coverage and sports magazine. Prior to that time, he was working as the national college football and college basketball columnist for the Chicago Tribune, which was preceded by reporting on both of these sports for the Los Angeles Times. Wojciechowski had prior experience reporting on the NFL for the Denver Post and Dallas Morning News and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The reporter was said to be part of layoffs by The Walt Disney Company that eliminated 7,000 jobs in an effort to cut $5.5 billion in costs, a mark the company ended up exceeding by approximately $2 billion. In addition to Wojciechowski, some of the other names that were reported as being affected by the layoffs included Max Kellerman, Suzy Kolber, Jeff Van Gundy and Steve Young.
Since he has no longer been working for the company, ESPN has made several alterations to College GameDay with the additions of Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and ‘Stanford’ Steve Coughlin. In his final season with the network, the show averaged 2.1 million viewers, indicative of its most-watched regular-season in history at that time.
After 27 1/2 yrs, my official last day on the ESPN books. Owe 1,000 thanks, but forever grateful to J Skipper, J Papanek, Steve Wulf, P Stiegman, Lee Fitting, Mike McQuade, D Kraft, Joe W, @KirkHerbstreit, @ReceDavis, Tom Rinaldi, @Jimmyggg44, @cbfowler +every editor/prod/crew.
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John Brenkus, the co-creator and host of the six-time Emmy award-winning series Sport Science, has passed away at the age of 54. Brenkus anchored the show over its years airing on Fox Sports Net and ESPN, and he had started a new version of the program on the Brinx.TV platform he founded.
Throughout episodes of the show, Brenkus would assimilate elements of physics, engineering and science to explain sports phenomena and athletic feats. The news of Brenkus’ passing appeared on his social media profiles on Sunday night.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the news that John Brenkus has passed away,” the post read. “John, co-founder of BAsE PRoductions, founder of Brinx.TV and co-creator and host of the 6-time Emmy Award-winning ‘Sport Science,’ had been battling depression. John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025. His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.”
Brenkus has previously discussed his battle with depression, sharing a story with Marcellus Wiley two years ago where he spoke about trying to commit suicide but being saved by his dog. In recent years, he had been creating content for Brinx.TV and also had worked with Hall of Fame Village Media for a series called The GOAT Code.
Brenkus had also taken part in Soul and Science segments on NFL Network, and during that same year, hosted episodes of The Brink of Midnight Podcast. In addition, he also wrote a New York Times bestselling book titled “The Perfection Point: Sport Science Predicts the Fastest Man, the Highest Jump, and the Limits of Athletic Performance.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 (or 800-273-8255) to connect with a trained counselor, or visit the NSPL website.
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.
Attendees at the BSM Summit in Chicago last month saw this in their program and on the big screen. Followers of our YouTube page, may have seen the video. But thousands who read us each day aren’t aware, so it’s time to fill you in. On Thursday night September 4th, Barrett Media will celebrate 10-years in business by hosting ‘The Barrett Bash‘.
This event will be invite-only. Invitations will start going out later this afternoon by email to one thousand media industry people. Those buying tickets to the 2025 BNM Summit automatically earn an invite to the event. We know some won’t be able to make it, but we expect a few hundred advertising, digital, music, news, and sports media folks to join us. ‘The Barrett Bash‘ will take place in the heart of Times Square from 5p-8p ET at 1604 Broadway. Our venue for this event is awesome.
I should mention that this is a FREE event. It includes food and drinks, music, prizes, and a few surprises. Given that our audience is comprised of influential people on-air, behind the scenes, and inside executive circles, expect a lot of networking too. If you work in sports media, have no fear, you’ll be able to attend, celebrate, and make it home in time for the NFL season opener between the Cowboys and Eagles.
Stephanie Eads is working on sponsorships to feature businesses who support the industry and our role in promoting it. Sponsorships will include on-site branding and activations, and inclusion in newsletters and a month-long content series we have planned in September to support our anniversary. Interested groups can email Stephanie at Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com to learn more.
I’m also planning a few toasts and announcements at the show, and hope to add a live acoustic musical performance. I’ve started that process with a few label contacts and industry friends, but am open to suggestions. Music friends can share ideas at Jason@BarrettMedia.com. I’m also hoping to add a host for the event as well.
I knew entering 2025 that this would be a special year. You only have one 10-year anniversary. Lasting ten years in any business is hard. 50% of businesses don’t make it past the five-year mark. When I started this journey, I put everything I had into it. As former A’s executive Lew Wolfe once said (Brandon Tierney hated it lol), there was no Plan B.
I left San Francisco in 2015 and traded a quarter million dollars per year for zero. Most wouldn’t do that but I did it to get home to NY to gain custody of my son. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. If I hadn’t done it, I’d have missed out on his teenage and early adult years, left him in an undesirable situation, and never have launched this brand. When people say ‘everything happens for a reason’, trust me, it’s true. I couldn’t have written this script if I tried.
When Barrett Media launched, there was no staff, newsletters, conferences, advertisers, consulting clients, or even a sharp looking website. I had to build it by myself. My goal was simple, land a few consulting clients to earn enough to raise my son.
I’ve worked 70-hour weeks for years, but during the first one, I went ten months without making a dime. As crazy as it sounds though, I knew I was on to something. My drive and vision have always been my greatest strengths, so I embraced the challenge and hard work. What I didn’t like was having to file and communicate with an unemployment office the first few months. It was depressing because I’ve never relied on help, I always found a way. There were many times where I questioned if I this was the right path.
Stephanie Eads has often told people that back then we were the real-life version of Bon Jovi’s ‘Living on a Prayer’. Gina (Steph) worked the diner all-day, while Tommy (Me) worked on the docks (aka the downstairs home office). As the story goes, we were down on our luck and it was tough. When you watch ‘The Barrett Bash‘ promo video, I hope that stays in your head.
As luck would have it, two clients came aboard simultaneously before the end of year one. One of them I still work with today. More soon followed, and now, I’m blessed to help many who I admire and respect. I’ve been fortunate to participate in meetings and business conversations with people and companies I never expected to talk with. Even situations that looked bleak at the time, produced wins in the craziest of ways. One in particular took place in Nashville at the NAB Show in 2016.
Dan Mason advised me to forego the NAB party and head to the hotel bar if I wanted to meet executives. His suggestion was spot on. What I didn’t expect was that the conversation would go well enough that one exec felt comfortable enough to allow me to pay his bar tab. The $100 in my wallet, quickly became $20, and with my flight taking place later that night and still needing to eat and pay for a ride to the airport, I started planning to use a cash advance on my credit card.
I headed back to my hotel, and as I walked past the slot machines, something told me ‘you only have $20, which is like having $0 so just sit down at this machine, and risk it.’ I did just that, and on the first spin, I won $400. My credit card advance was no longer needed, my meal and ride were covered, and one-week later, the executive whose tab I picked up, connected me with one of his people to consult a key market.
It’s those type of stories from the past decade that make the present special. I’ve got plenty more, which I’ll save for another time. We’ve beaten the odds so far and have built a quality brand. In the past five years alone, we’ve delivered over twenty million in traffic, which for a niche site like ours, is awesome. We continue to grow and invest, and I’m damn proud of what we’ve done.
For years I’ve preached the importance of celebrating success because so many of us forget about the wins and obsess over the losses. If I didn’t take time to reflect and appreciate where we were, how far we’ve come, and who has read us, promoted us, invested in us, and contributed for us, I’d be a hypocrite.
I try to be open and honest with our audience because I believe that’s vital in creating connections and partnerships. I’ve also hired others to showcase different perspectives and experiences. To most though, we’re an email that appears in your inbox or a post that you see on social media. You don’t think much about what it means when you click to read our stories or share what our writers have written, but for us, it means everything. It confirms that the work we’re doing matters, and that our partners can be seen by others. Sharing my passion and knowledge, and helping others is why I do this, but it only works if people enjoy and value it.
Though I’ll be proud of reaching the ten year milestone in September, what we’ve done provides no assurances for tomorrow. I run our business each day taking nothing for granted, and I never stop learning. We operate in a world where it’s harder than ever to get people to invest in us let alone read and share our content. Advertising revenues keep shrinking in traditional media, and for B2B brands like ours, it’s even tougher. Social media dislikes promotion of links that take people away from their platforms. Email is more cluttered than ever, making it a challenge to be opened and clicked. And Search is being impacted by AI, while programmatic advertising for publishers declines.
If you look at what we’re up against, it’s very much the David vs. Goliath story. Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Google see less value in us than they do larger corporations. I don’t blame them. It’s not their job to worry about whether or not we succeed. Increasing profits is their concern, and we don’t help them as much.
Fortunately, I didn’t build Barrett Media dependent on traffic, programmatic advertising, social media follower counts or beating other trade sites. I don’t believe in tearing others down to lift us up. My focus is on learning and educating the right audience through a mixture of quality content, pertinent information, and valuable events. The more we can inform, challenge, celebrate, connect and inspire media professionals, the more they’ll read our work, tell others, attend our events, support us, and establish relationships with our partners and others to grow their businesses.
By no means have we figured it all out. But we have survived a pandemic, and been able to support 6 FT staffers and 15 contributors. We’ve moved into newer areas (news and music) too, increased events and partnerships, and are still lucky enough to work with amazing consulting clients.
The next decade will provide its fair share of challenges, but we have no plans of slowing down. Sports and news media coverage remains a key focus, but we’re also diving deeper into building bonds across music radio and the record industry. Being valued by professionals from all three areas along with the advertising industry is a priority. We’ll have plenty of time to look ahead but before we do that, we’re going to enjoy a night looking back. We’re excited to do that with many of you who’ve helped us reach this point. The Barrett Bash will be a blast, and I look forward to celebrating with you.
2025 Barrett News Media Summit
The 2025 BNM Summit presented by Newsmax will have its next announcement Wednesday morning. Glenn Beck, Chris Ruddy, Sid Rosenberg, Mark Simone, Mike Gallagher and Erick Erickson are already confirmed to speak at this year’s show. Those looking to attend can save money on tickets through June 30th by visiting BNMSummit.com. Tickets are $224.99 currently but increase to $324.99 on July 1st. A reminder, those purchasing tickets get an automatic invite to ‘The Barrett Bash‘ as well.
Quick Hits
Congratulations to TNT on a special run with the NBA. The final signoff by Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce was perfect. Shaq’s F-bomb, the crew thanking the behind the scenes folks who helped the show succeed, and the emotion in Ernie Johnson’s voice as he said farewell was heartwarming. I watched and laughed at tons of old moments this weekend from Inside the NBA including Shaq’s 1-2-3, Chuck’s churro’s, the shot at Galveston, the steam room bracelet,milking that baby thing, Shaq’s crash into the Christmas tree, and Shaq getting tangled. ESPN has a strong TV lineup and they are about to add the best sports television show past and present. There’s no better team than Ernie, Shaq, Kenny and Charles.
John Mamola‘s column on Friday about Ryan Clark and the PIVOT was an important read. I don’t know Ryan but I’ve enjoyed his conversations with guests, especially Nick Saban. But Mamola was right about his recent mistakes and the damage they’ve done. The RG3 mess was a terrible look, but throwing your co-host (Channing Crowder) under a bus, audio disappearing from WQAM, and then sharing in a tweet that your show won’t serve viewers at the expense of those who appear is even more perplexing. When you tell the public that you’re creating a safe-space for guests and will edit conversations if the guests don’t like how they’re presented, you’re giving them no reason to trust you. If they’re not the priority and watch the content less, what exactly is the point of the show?
Taylor Swift changed the game when she re-recorded her old songs and albums, fighting back against her former manager and record label. On Friday, her long fight to regain control of her original records ended in victory. If there’s one thing to learn from her situation, sometimes you have to rewrite the rules and make bold decisions to regain control of your life and work. This applies to any business, but especially to those working under contracts in any area of the media industry. If you don’t own your name, content, social media accounts, etc. your value is instantly lower. Keep that in mind moving forward.
Speaking of bold, if you’re not paying attention to what the All-American Rejects are doing with their pop-up house party shows, start. These types of opportunities exist in every business but especially in media. The difference, the Rejects came up with a great idea and created a plan to bring it to life. Now they’re reaping the rewards of that creativity and decision making. People are talking everywhere about it. Congrats to Megan Kraemer (AAR’s manager) and the band on combining great vision with strong execution.
First pop up, popped off. Green Bay melted cheese. Where we going next? We’ll know when we wake up tomorrow. 12pm Central. Link in bio to rsvp #housepartytourpic.twitter.com/p8mzrGOyVh
— THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS (@therejects) May 15, 2025
I was a casual fan of Country music but since CRS it’s been on my radar more. ‘Amen‘ by Jelly Roll and Shaboozey has received a lot of play inside the Barrett household lately. So too has Bottle Rockets by Scotty McCreery with Hootie & the Blowfish. The one tune though stuck most in my head is ‘Happens to Me‘ by Russell Dickerson. Raffaella Braun, that bridge and chorus is freaking catchy. Guess I’ll have to take in a concert or two this summer at Bethel Woods.
Congrats to Tom Sullivan and Tony Kruse on wrapping up their news/talk radio careers. Additional congrats to David Samson on his new deal with Meadowlark Media, and Scott Hanson on returning to NFL Redzone.
When you’re a known commodity as a talent, you’re going to appear in meme form at some point. I started noticing a number of them appear on my timeline lately involving Dave Ramsey. They’re fantastic and reinforce that Dave Ramsey is who you call for business advice. This one below is my personal favorite.
“So you have a payroll of 324 million”
“Yes, Dave”
“And you spent 765 million on a guy who’s batting .224?”
— Moneyball Memes 💰⚾️ (@MoneyballMemes) May 29, 2025
Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw is suing the Soros Fund Group. The suit claims that a broken prior arrangement included a provision that could’ve Warshaw CEO of Audacy. I don’t know Jeff personally but have heard him speak a few times at events. He’s sharp. I’ve also talked to employees who rave about him. How would he have led one of radio’s largest operations? I’m not sure, but it would’ve been interesting. I’ve yet to hear anyone else use the F-word in public speaking situations better than Mr. Warshaw.
If you want to hear something insightful, take a listen to Gary Vaynerchuk‘s thoughts on AI. I listened last week to Gary’s podcast. His perspective on utilizing video and how to get the most out of it for $50 was especially interesting.
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.
Gambling has for a long time fascinated people around the world, but thanks to the evolution of online gambling platforms, it is now more globally accessible than ever. But with increased access and competition, the demand for updated regulations also comes. Today, the legality and availability of gambling differ hugely across the world, but some countries and regions are experiencing a massive growth in the market. Here we take a closer look at some of the areas where gambling is the most prevalent.
What is Driving the Global Growth of Gambling?
It is no secret that technological advancements and access to gambling online are huge driving forces behind the continuous growth of gambling activities. Online, players have access to an array of platforms and games to choose from, where they can benefit from additional perks such as lucrative bonuses and choose from the fastest payment methods available for quick deposits and withdrawals. Blockchain technology and the use of cryptocurrencies for gambling further build on this, opening up for a new era of online gambling.
The proliferation of smartphones and improved internet connectivity has made online gambling more accessible, with mobile devices accounting for a significant share of online gambling revenue. The general ease of access to gambling whenever and from wherever, as well as the overall benefits of online platforms, are huge reasons why gambling revenues keep increasing in some areas of the world, such as the following.
1. United States
The United States stands as the largest online gambling market globally, with projected total gambling revenues of approximately $121.29 billion in 2025. While offshore gambling is still a huge market, the legalization of online gambling in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, has significantly contributed to this growth. The convenience of mobile betting, coupled with the popularity of sports events such as the NFL, has further fueled the market’s expansion. In states where online gambling is not yet legal, many players look for offshore-based options to get in on the action.
2. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom boasts a well-established online gambling market, with the latest figures showing £3,616 million in receipts for the provisional 2024 to 2025 financial year – a 7% increase from the previous year. The UK Gambling Commission’s stringent regulations ensure a secure and transparent environment for players. The market’s maturity is reflected in its wide offerings, including online casinos, sports betting, and poker.
3. Australia
Another English-speaking market that ranks high when it comes to gambling is Australia. Despite its relatively small population, the country ranks among the top online gambling markets. Australians have a strong gambling culture, with a significant portion engaging in online sports betting and casino games. However, the country has been facing challenges related to gambling, prompting regulatory measures such as banning credit card use for online gambling.
4. Italy
Italy’s online gambling market was valued at more than $4.5 billion in 2024, making it one of Europe’s largest. The country’s early adoption of online gambling regulations in 2006 paved the way for a robust market. Italian players show a diverse preference for online casino games, poker, and sports betting, with several local operators leading the industry, making room for flourishing business.
5. Germany & France
Neighboring countries Germany and France both operate with well-regulated online gambling markets at similar values of more than $3 billion. The countries have a lot of similarities, but some differences in player preferences. France’s market thrives on sports betting, particularly football and horse racing, while Germany’s market benefits from the 2021 regulation of online gambling, with many Germans enjoying online slots.
6. Brazil
Moving away from Europe, Brazil is a massive country with quite a large gambling market. The legalization of fixed-odds sports betting in 2018 spurred growth, but the lack of comprehensive regulation has led to concerns about gambling addiction and economic impact. New regulations set to take effect in 2025 aim to address these issues by imposing taxes and restrictions on advertising and credit card usage.
7. Philippines
In Asia, the Philippines has been a growing gambling hub, projected to generate revenues between $7.8 billion and $8.3 billion in 2025. The market is largely driven by the growth of electronic gaming and integrated resorts. Notably, several operators leverage the country’s liberal gambling laws to target players in China, where gambling is illegal.
8. Canada
Canada’s regulated market offers a variety of online gambling options, including casinos, sports betting, and lotteries. The convenience of mobile gambling and the availability of lots of different options contribute to Canada’s strong online market performance, which generated more than $2 billion during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
9. India
India has seen a boom in online gambling in recent years, with projections seeing the industry value at more than 9 billion by 2029. Despite the country’s prohibitive legislation, there’s a growing demand for online gambling, particularly in sports betting. Calls for legalization and regulation are increasing, with proponents arguing that it would curb illegal activities and generate tax revenue.
10. Spain
Spain’s online gambling market is regulated under the Spanish Gambling Act of 2011, requiring operators to obtain licenses from the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling. Like many other countries in Europe, this has resulted in a thriving online gambling market where players can enjoy a safe and regulated gambling experience, though some players opt for offshore-based platforms too. While national regulations provide a general framework, some Spanish regions impose additional rules, reflecting the country’s decentralized governance.
Conclusion
The global online casino market keeps evolving while adapting to new technology and regulatory frameworks. As players go for both regulated and offshore-based platforms, many countries are seeing a growth in the market value. When regulated properly, these countries can benefit from tax revenue, which is an argument for more countries to update their regulations and licensing models. From English-speaking countries to smaller markets in Europe, Asia, and beyond, there are plenty of areas that it will be interesting to follow in the coming years.
Alt-rockers The All-American Rejects have gone back to their roots. The band has been doing pop-up shows across the country, including a bowling alley in Minneapolis and a barn near Ames, Iowa.
In an interview with KBIA in Columbia, MO, lead singer Tyson Ritter said, “The whole thing about this has been sort of like this weird synchronistic happenstance of reactivity.”
Adding “We played this random house party, and of all the shows we played in the last ten years, it was, like, this big wake-up call to the reality of, ‘Oh, this is why we started doing this’. We played in house shows. We played backyards, VFWs, and I just told my manager that worked, let’s do that.”
There is a signup form on the band’s Instagram, and fans are notified shortly before the show.
It’s a great way to reignite interest in the band, which had the majority of its hits between 2002 and 2008, before they head out on tour this summer.
— THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS (@therejects) May 13, 2025
There is an excellent lesson for radio here. With the competition for share of ear, radio would be well advised to go back to its roots. Remember that people often view radio presenters as being in show business. And love to get a glimpse behind the curtain.
With the need to re-engage the audience and give people a reason to give radio a second glance, it’s time to take your station back to the streets.
One of the most popular things I used to do was a pop-up broadcast from a dad’s backyard on Father’s Day. We brought everything for a backyard cookout, including a new grill that we left behind. The afternoon guy did his show from there, and neighbors wandered in and out during the broadcast.
Not surprisingly, they were most interested in meeting the afternoon guy and gathered round to watch when he did his breaks.
In a time when remote broadcasts were significantly more technically challenging to execute, radio would host live shows from record stores (remember record stores), bars, outdoor celebrations, and even local small-town parades.
People respond to that behind-the-scenes look. I was recently at Circa Casino. They have a studio and production facility just outside their massive sports book. I wondered what the commotion was, so I walked over and saw people three deep looking through the window, watching casino owner Derek Stevens talking into a microphone.
Even as long as I have been in radio, I’ll admit I stopped and watched as well.
Powell Broadcasting, which excels in small-market radio, has a permanent studio located at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Sioux City, Iowa, right on the casino floor. The station will broadcast for big events and match their portfolio of station formats with the genre of the artist performing at the theatre.
When speaking with major market programmers, I almost always ask if being in the public eye is still important and if it can make a difference in a PPM market. Without exception, each one has given me a resounding YES.
No one understands it better than 103.7 KSON San Diego’s “John & Tammy: San Diego’s Morning Show.” They travel the market, making sure to hit the collar communities where they have listeners.
A great example was the show and the station hosting a pop-up event with Country singer Matt Stell performing on top of a double-decker bus. They visit workplaces, construction sites, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.
Program Director Scott Roddy told me in an interview earlier this year, “Here’s my philosophy, and I believe that a hundred percent. Even when you live in a really big market, you still feel like you’re in a small town because that’s how we live. That’s our lifestyle. I hear this frequently. Well, it sounds like a small market, but our listeners aren’t going. I live in San Diego, so radio shouldn’t be doing this.”
“That’s how you make connections—you really, truly make connections. And I don’t mind being labeled small market thinking or small market-minded at all for that. I think that all of us are simple, very simple people. We all want the same thing: to be loved.”
I often ask talent, “How did you delight and surprise the audience today?” Showing up, surprising them with a breakfast burrito or delivering lunch. Giving them attention and doing it on their turf builds the bond with your brand.
Hit the streets. Get back out with the audience. Surprise them and let them get to know you in person, and where they work and live.
Back to the basics is not a “Dirty Little Secret.”
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Over the Memorial Day weekend, I was lucky enough to catch the AC/DC tour when it stopped at Soldier Field in Chicago. It was a great night. Though fifty-four degrees with wind coming off Lake Michigan wasn’t exactly the summer kick-off I was hoping for.
Of course, being the consummate Classic Rock columnist that I am, my goal was to not only enjoy the show but hopefully come home with an idea for a column. Then a father and son sat down in the seats directly in front of my friend Jack and me. Watching how much they enjoyed the show left me with questions I was never able to get answered. If I had been willing to infringe on their night for an interview here are the questions I would have asked.
Photo Mike Stern
How old are you?
My guess is they were maybe forty-five and fourteen, respectively. Even better, they were by no means the exception in the crowd. In fact, after going to this show, I’d like everyone to stop obsessing about the aging Classic Rock audience falling off the supposed “demographic cliff.” The average age at this show was simply not that old. It wasn’t twenty-nine, but it wasn’t sixty-five either. Just from spending a lot of time walking around before the show and in-between acts, I would say it was fifty or even a little younger.
What does seeing this show together mean to you?
The people in front of me were not a rare occurrence. Beyond the overall age of the people at the show not being super high, even more exciting were the numbers of families – parents and children of all ages – enjoying the show together. I may be reading into this, but for the father and son in front of me, it looked like they were having a truly memorable night. It gave me hope that there are more generations to come who are going to embrace the music we all love.
What led you to buy the light-up devil horns?
Taking a cue from the iconic “Highway to Hell” album cover. Every merch booth was selling red costume horns, which light up and blink, for a mere $30 a pair. I admit when Jack and I first saw them, we turned our noses up. Read this with the full sarcastic tone that’s intended, “$30 for silly plastic horns, I’ll pass,” I said.
By the time it got dark and the concert got going, I realized that easily every third person, including the father and his teenage son in front of me, was wearing a pair of light-up horns. A great reminder to not take ourselves too seriously. Especially in the Rock formats, when the station’s target audience is men. It’s easy to fall into being too cool for the room. In Classic Rock, we get into being purists about the music or thinking that guys don’t like songs from the poppier side of the format or that our audience won’t embrace anything that’s too silly. That is, until you see them wearing red, blinking, devil horns.
Photo Mike Stern
How do you know those songs?
In homage to my column from last week about opening the request lines and the value of playing an occasional deeper track, I will admit there were a few songs on the setlist I didn’t actually know. I’ll own up to being a little lost on “Demon Fire,” “Sin City,” and “Riff Raff” for example. I’m only admitting this for one reason. Each time I wasn’t into a song, the father and son in front of me were rocking with a vengeance.
I’d be curious to know how they got, not just exposed but bonded to some of the band’s deeper tracks. I’m guessing it wasn’t from the radio. That’s why playlists of well-tested, tried, and true hits are important. So is periodically finding a way to carefully dig deeper, especially into the biggest acts with strong catalogs like AC/DC.
What was your favorite song of the night?
Honestly, I only included that question so I could share my answer, “Whole Lotta Rosie” kicked serious ass!
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.
Throughout the 34-year history of WEEI operating in the sports talk format, no professional team in the Boston metropolitan area has secured more league championships than the New England Patriots. Led by quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, the franchise secured titles six times since the turn of the century. Tight end Jermaine Wiggins played a key role in helping the organization win its first championship in 2001, including catching a pass that led to a game-winning field goal in the waning seconds. While he no longer suits up on the gridiron, Wiggins continues having a presence in the marketplace discussing the team throughout the year on The Greg Hill Show.
Wiggins has been a member of the station since 2019 and assimilated into the morning drive program alongside its titular host, conveying his personal perspective and opinions to the listening audience. In addition, he participated in interviews with Belichick, who continued working as the head coach and general manager of the Patriots until his departure in 2023 and eventually landing as head coach of the University of North Carolina football team this past winter.
“It’s a unique thing when you have Bill on for so long and everything’s kind of been close to the vest. As a player who played for him, knowing that it was like, ‘Don’t let any outside distractions affect what we’re trying to do,’ and then you kind of see Bill in this new world, this new light of him dating somebody much younger,” Wiggins explained. “He’s kind of [had] this new way of how he’s approaching things.”
Rather than avoiding the topic, Wiggins and his colleagues at WEEI have discussed the events and implications it could have moving forward. There have been various reports about the relationship between Belichick, 73, and his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, thus eliciting further discussion and intrigue into the situation.
Hudson has reportedly been managing his personal brand and had a role in his CBS News Sunday Morning interview promoting his book. Wiggins is the only member of The Greg Hill Show able to provide firsthand perspective from a former player, enhancing the conversations and bolstering the overall attention.
“Being that morning show where we blend those two worlds, I think there are a lot of people that want to talk about that, want to hear our opinions about it, want to give their opinions about it,” Wiggins articulated, “That’s why you kind of talk about it even though it might not be still Boston-related, but he coached for the Patriots for 20-plus years.”
Keeping Up With the Success of Boston Sports
Boston has had its share of celebratory parades in recent years, celebrating seven league championships spread across the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. On top of that, the four teams have combined for 67 playoff appearances since 2000, an ongoing stretch of prosperity and grandeur further propelling the New England region as a beacon of sorts for winning. While all of the professional sports franchises draw significant interest in the sprawling metropolis, Wiggins believes that Patriots football is effectively nonpareil in this regard.
“When they’re doing good and you’re having conversations about that, people are tuning in,” Wiggins said. “They want to know, ‘Can you win? What’s it look like? Is there another Super Bowl to add on to that?,’ so people are always into that element, and especially with the Patriots.”
Although there is no singular measurement universally recognized as the epitome of success, the sports media business has generally pointed to ratings as possessing a key part of the equation. Wiggins has aspirations of rendering the show as the top offering in the marketplace and is mired in an environment with more competitors than just sports talk radio stations. As someone who listened to The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 and the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, he tries to bring aspects of entertainment into his own work on the airwaves while taking feedback from executives to bolster the ratings.
“I tend really not to concern myself with much that I can’t control,” Wiggins said. “I can’t control what corporate wants to do when it comes to saving money or I can’t control who has the meters or all that other stuff. All I can control is what I can control.”
Wiggins believes the diversity of voices on WEEI is part of what separates the station from the rest of the pack. Hill emanated from the rock format as the longtime morning show host at WAAF before the program moved to the sports talk station six years ago. Co-host Courtney Cox offers her own viewpoints related to teams and players while also bringing robust proficiency in pop culture news and conversation. Show producers Chris Curtis and Chris Scheim also lend their thoughts from the control room and help enhance the overall dialogue by further broadening the sonic milieu.
“I have the ability, [as] somebody who can kind of talk as the former athlete, what maybe some Black sports fans might listen to or like,” Wiggins explained, “Having the ability to have that kind of conversation or what it means to just be a Black man in America and what that relates into sports and different athletes.”
Taking the Play Calls and Executing
Wiggins views Hill as the proverbial quarterback of the show, facilitating the offensive attack by outlining roles and executing the playbook. Hill has vast previous experience having worked in radio for approximately 35 years and is the person who vouched for Wiggins to be part of the morning show in the first place, a vote of confidence for which he remains grateful.
“He wants us to be authentic, and that’s the thing about a great host or who makes a great host is understanding each individual and how they’re different and then allowing them to be able to drive it so we don’t go completely off the rails,” Wiggins said, “That takes a lot of hard work from a guy like Greg who is a leader.”
There are athletes today though who have decided to forsake traditional media companies and create content through independent ventures, but Wiggins decided against following this formula and aspires to continue supporting his family. Despite Audacy recently emerging from Ch. 11 bankruptcy and becoming a private company, along with subsequent alterations to its corporate leadership and layoffs to streamline its resources, Wiggins values being part of the company.
“If you’re starting something from the bottom – it’s like anything else, any business – there’s going to be a lot of risk that’s involved in that, and there’s going to be times where financially, it might be a little bit harder,” Wiggins said. “It might be different than somebody like [Jason] Kelce, who just retired and had a couple big contracts. He can kind of take time and that other thing, but at the end of the day, I got mouths to feed.”
In considering his own approach, Wiggins views his radio style to barbershop talk that is incontrovertibly genuine and contains fluctuating wit. Rather than attending broadcasting school before or after his eight-year NFL playing career, he instead grasped the craft by learning from others and considering acumen and input from established industry professionals.
“I try to get as much knowledge as I can from a lot of different people, be a sponge, and then I just add it into the way I do it,” Wiggins said. “I don’t change who I am. If we were hanging out at a bar, what you hear on the radio would be the same person.”
Wiggins attributes Hill to being the person who delegates between sports discussion and other external topics into the rundown. In recognizing that he has the ability to bring the show to where he feels it needs to exist, Wiggins acknowledged that he follows along and also makes suggestions ahead of each new show. Whereas some people assume that the work does not span beyond the four-hour program, the reality is that the tasks are nonstop in staying informed and sharing content.
“I never want to pigeonhole myself as just like, ‘Oh, I only talk football,’ because that’s not what you do in the real world,” Wiggins said. “We just didn’t go in the locker room and talk about football and Xs and Os. That was part of it, but we were talking about music and pop culture and movies and all of that.”
Part of effectuating broad appeal and an unrelenting presence in the media ecosystem amid a proliferation in content optionality is through digital domains. Wiggins acknowledged that Cox has strong knowledge surrounding social media and assists in the content and timing of different posts. A byproduct of such, however, is potentially amassing more criticism, but rather than loathing negative feedback in general, he is receptive to what comes in his direction as long as people are listening.
“Everybody that likes you, there’s always going to be somebody who doesn’t like you, and you just go to go out there and have fun, and sh*t, life is too short to be worrying about what people say,” Wiggins explained. “Just go out there and enjoy it.”
Being Boston Strong Due to the Demand of the Audience
Sports has embedded itself as a key part of the culture in the New England region for many years, but the marketplace has interest in topics that circulate nationally as well. From the latest developments surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the career of superstar forward LeBron James, Wiggins understands there is appeal in discussing big-picture topics. Yet the foundation of The Greg Hill Show is rooted in local sports, and he is confident in Audacy Boston market manager Mike Thomas and WEEI brand manager Ken Laird in leading the enterprise forward.
“I played for Belichick, I played for Parcells – to play for guys that have unbelievable track records and then work for guys that have unbelievable track records because all it does is make me better at what I do,” Wiggins said. “…I try to take as much advice as I can from all those guys to help me be better.”
Moving forward in the sports talk radio format, Wiggins is enthusiastic about the future and operating amid a sphere in which he detects continued growth. Listeners have augmented accessibility in consuming the program through the Audacy app or streaming live on the WEEI YouTube channel, something that could help increase the total addressable market for the show. Wiggins discerns a great thing about radio is in the longevity it affords professionals, and he intends to continue trying to be the best he can, embracing the competition to stand alone at the subliminal apex of the profession.
“There’s always going to be people out there that are going to want to tune in because you can only listen to ‘Not Like Us’ by Kendrick Lamar so many times on, whether it’s the HOT 97s in New York or V103s,” Wiggins said. “You can only listen to the song so many times, and you’re like, ‘Alright, I need something different,’ and I think you’re starting to see a lot of people, not just gravitating towards [the fact that] they love the format of hearing people’s opinions on whatever it is, so that’s the thing I look forward to.”
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One of life’s little treasures used to be dawdling at the news stand, browsing through the magazines and… what? You don’t know what a newsstand is? Come to think of it, there are entire generations who have never seen a newsstand, which is weird, since at one time they were as ubiquitous as having a car with AM/FM radio.
There were the ones on the sidewalk, with stacks of the local papers, magazines clipped to the open doors, a guy chomping on a cigar, taking your quarter for The Daily News. There were actual storefronts, the magazines displayed in slots along the walls, candy by the register, cigarettes behind it, memories of going there on a Saturday night to grab the first editions of the Sunday Times as they came off the trucks. And there were other places to read magazines, like Barnes and Noble (which may be the last one standing of the remaining magazine sellers) or the checkout line at the supermarket.
This exercise in nostalgia is brought to you by the news this week that McClatchy, the newspaper chain, is shutting down some of the stalwarts of the supermarket checkout, namely First For Women, In Touch, Life & Style, and Closer. All four will be shuttering at the end of June, leaving the company with the recently-acquired Us Weekly and Woman’s World as its remaining magazines alongside the Soap Opera Digest website that survived the print version’s demise.
Magazines are getting thinner and thinner, and harder to find as well, and it’s as hard to imagine any of them surviving in print as it once was to imagine them gone. If you want the articles, they’re on the web. If you want the gossip and breaking news, it’s on social media. It’s not that people don’t like or want the content, it’s that they want it in a different form, delivered in a different way, just like newspapers.
And radio and television, for that matter. Radio has the advantage of being in your car, where video is both dangerous and largely illegal. The problem is that there are other audio options now, offering customized playlists and on-demand programming, and being able to offer subscription options to wipe out the annoying ads, and they’re available on the same in-car systems as radio.
Radio hasn’t come up with an answer for that; it can’t lose the advertising, attempts at customization have largely been ignored, and the one thing radio can do is to issue content in podcast form, which is a different medium from radio with different content requirements and different capabilities. The trickle of stations, mostly AMs in small markets, giving up the ghost and turning their licenses in to the FCC, is still a trickle, but if you could bet on it becoming a flood, you’d probably do so.
Magazines served their purpose when the public a) liked reading weekly or monthly material on paper and b) had no other option. Now, everything that used to come to you in magazines, newspapers, on television, or on the radio comes to you on your phone. It’s become a cliché to depict people walking around with their noses buried in their phones, scrolling through social media, their ears filled with AirPods.
The fact that radio is still around and — absent corporate debt — can still be profitable (although less so than in the past) is somewhat of a miracle. As an industry, radio thinks of itself as particularly endangered, but that’s true of most traditional media. Radio still has its uses, which you really can’t say for newspapers and magazines except for catering to the last print-subscribing holdouts, even less of a growth industry than broadcasting.
That’s good to remember when assessing the future. Nobody can argue that things are bright and sunny for radio going forward, but there’s still a business in creating audio content, whatever the medium. The lessons learned by the slow, painful demise of magazines and newspapers are right there in front of you, and maybe someone will take advantage of that to keep the medium viable. Maybe it’ll be Spotify and podcasts running aground while radio putters along.
Or not. Nothing is guaranteed. Maybe you’ll read about it in a trade magaz… oh, yeah, right. Let’s not go there.
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.
Ken LaVicka has signed a new contract with ESPN Radio under which he will return to the national radio network this July in a utility role. LaVicka, who formerly worked for ESPN West Palm over 17 years, has been serving as the English-language radio play-by-play announcer for Inter Miami CF throughout the season. In addition, he has filled in on ESPN Radio programming in the past, including Carlin vs. Joe in middays last August, and also calls live game broadcasts for Florida Atlantic University football and basketball.
“Showed the front office enough on my rookie deal to get my second contract,” LaVicka posted on his X account this Friday morning. “it’s done. i have re-upped w/ @ESPNRadio. signed and locked in. excited to be back on the national radio airwaves in July!”
LaVicka previously paired with Theo Dorsey and Stone Labanowitz in middays for three years on ESPN West Palm before his tenure with the station came to a conclusion. In a previous interview with Barrett Media, LaVicka described the transaction as “a corporate decision” that was “definitely not mutual.” Inter Miami CF live game broadcasts air live on ESPN West Palm and the Spanish-language broadcasts are on Deportes Radio 760AM, both of which are owned by Good Karma Brands.
Beyond his commentary work, LaVicka has also participated in episodes of By All Accounts, a show he started on YouTube alongside former WQAM digital content producer Zach Krantz. Furthermore, he has delivered play-by-play calls for USL games airing on Yahoo, Paramount, ESPN+ and Twitch working remotely for VISTA Worldlink. LaVicka is a graduate of Valparaiso University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in sports broadcasting and new media journalism.
showed the front office enough on my rookie deal to get my second contract. it's done. i have re-upped w/ @ESPNRadio. signed and locked in. excited to be back on the national radio airwaves in July!
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 Swift‘s long battle with her former record label is over. The popular recording artist has regained her former music library.
In a letter posted on TaylorSwift.com, Taylor shared that all of the music she’s ever made now belongs to her. Swift said, “I’ve been bursting into tears of joy ever since I found out this is really happening.”
The saga has been ongoing since June 2019 when former manager Scooter Braun bought Swift’s former record label Big Machine, gaining ownership of Swift’s songs and most popular albums. Swift took exception to the deal, blaming Braun for being complicit in the bullying she endured from Kanye West, one of Braun’s clients.
“To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it,” shared Swift. “I can’t thank you enough for helping to reunite me with this art that I have dedicated my life to, but have never owned until now. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away. But that’s all in the past now.”
Swift’s decision to take Kelly Clarkson’s advice and return to the recording studio to re-record her old songs, would change the course of history. She began re-recording her albums in 2021, starting with her album, ‘Fearless’.
Braun meanwhile sold his stake in Swift’s catalog in 2020 to Shamrock Holdings, a Los Angeles investment fund founded by the Disney family. Though it left Swift feeling blindsided once again that her music was sold without her knowledge, she was open to partnering with Shamrock. That was until she learned that under the terms of a sale Braun would continue to profit off her work.
“I simply cannot in good conscience bring myself to be involved in benefiting Scooter Braun’s interests,” Swift said in a letter to the company, which she posted on social media.She began releasing her re-recorded albums in 2021, starting with her breakthrough, coming-of-age album Fearless.
Swift became the first musician to earn one billion dollars from songwriting and performing in 2023. Most of her wealth came from music royalties and touring. The rest was the result of her music catalogue including her re-recorded music. Her ‘Eras Tour’ in 2023 and 2024 generated more than 2 billion in ticket sales.
The news of Swift regaining control of her original music immediately began spreading across the music radio scene. Here are what some in the industry had to say about the news on social media.
