Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is no stranger to a public negotiation when it comes to recruiting, keeping, and removing talent from the Barstool brand. The company created and lives in an always-on type of content model where even the behind-the-scenes of the company is considered content that their massive digital audience flocks to.
Recently, Portnoy was a guest on Club Shay Shay, hosted by Shannon Sharpe. While discussing how he negotiates deals with the top stars of the company, the topic of how much Portnoy pays his talent was brought up.
“We pay as good as any media company,” said Portnoy. “And I mean, while I’m dealing they’re crying, popping bottles with how much they’re making. Alex got 60. McAfee is making 10s. We pay. That’s the biggest misnomer in the world.”
Afterward, the conversation shifted as Sharpe mentioned he’s a free agent when it comes to being signed, which led to the following back-and-forth.
“We pay,” said Portnoy.
“Pay pay,” questioned Sharpe.
“I mean, you’re huge,” Portnoy said to Sharpe.
“I’m a free agent,” responded Sharpe. “Dave, I’m just throwing it out there. We don’t have to negotiate publicly, but I’m just saying I’m free.”
Portnoy then questioned when Sharpe was to become a free agent, to which Sharpe asked Portnoy when he wanted him to be free.
“I’m free. No parole, no probation. Free free,” said Sharpe.
Just last month, Front Office Sportsreported that Sharpe’s contract with The Volume is up, and the former NFL tight end has received multiple offers. Moreover, the outlet reported that Sharpe is looking to sign a deal that would exceed $100 million dollars.
“You’re probably very expensive right now,” explained Portnoy. “Our model generally, is the reverse. We find the guys, build them up, and they leave. As opposed to getting them at the top, because you pay the premium. You coming to us, for example, we’re not going to make you bigger.”
He continued by saying, “Our secret sauce is if you’re talented we will make you huge. But you’d be good on our networks.”
In addition, the report surrounding Sharpe’s agreement with The Volume came just days before Sharpe found himself embroiled in a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who claims that the former NFL star sexually assaulted, harassed, and committed battery against her. According to a lawsuit filed Sunday in Clark County, NV, the plaintiff, under the alias “Jane Doe,” said she was in a rocky relationship with Sharpe for nearly two years and is seeking $50 million dollars in damages.
Sharpe has denied the allegations through his lawyer and several posts on social media. Furthermore, according to the New York Post, Sharpe was in mediation with his accuser, with Sharpe’s lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, stating that his client was at least willing to settle for $10 million dollars. Following the allegations, Sharpe announced he would step down from his duties with ESPN on a temporary basis to focus more time on his family, and responding to and dealing with the allegations.
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Mark Levin has criticized those close to President Donald Trump as antisemitic. Tucker Carlson had a strong rebuke of those comments.
Levin stated that comments from Steve Witkoff — who is serving as the special envoy to the Middle East — were undoubtedly antisemitic.
That drew the ire of Carlson — Levin’s former Fox News colleague — who, in a conversation with Dave Smith, said that Levin was wildly off base with his statements.
“I’ve been in the right-wing world my whole life. I know everybody,” said Carlson. “I worked with Mark. I’ve always gotten along with Mark. (He’s) always been nice to me. But yeah, he just accused Trump, the Trump administration of anti-Semitism for calling someone a neo-con.”
Carlson continued by stating that he thought Witkoff had “the hand of God on him” and that he “was running around the world trying to bring peace” in the unstable Middle East.
Tucker Carlson then stated that after Levin’s social media posts and public comments about a member of the Trump administration, he almost called his former colleague to confront him, but decided against it.
“We’ve reached peak crazy,” Carlson argued, pointing out that Witkoff himself is Jewish, making it unlikely that he’s antisemitic.
“I almost called Mark when I saw it because I know him. But I really love Steve Witkoff and I think his decency — I don’t agree with him on everything at all — but his decency is just palpable,” Carlson continued. “It just comes through, his concern for people. His reasonableness is just so obvious … I was so offended. And then I thought, ‘I’m not gonna solve anything by calling Mark Levin and scolding him.’ … He’s not stupid. If you’re calling Steve Witkoff an anti-Semite on Twitter, you know you’re losing, right?”
Mark Levin has yet to respond or react publicly to the comments from Tucker Carlson.
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Karla Cantrell is returning to Country K95.5 Tulsa as APD and afternoons. Cantrell was previously K95.5 PD for nine years before leaving in 2013 for Fargo, ND.
Cantrell returned to Tulsa in 2016 to program 106.1 The Twister. She was there for eight years before being part of iHeartMedia’s downsizing in August 2024.
She takes over the spot vacated when Jenny Law transferred to sister station 101.1 KONO and Y100 in San Antonio. (BMM 2/13)
Mark Shecterle, VP/GM of CMG Tulsa, said, “It is with great excitement that we welcome Karla back to the CMG family. She brings a wealth of radio knowledge and the love of the Tulsa community.”
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The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports, allowing fans across the Tampa Bay Area to watch games for free, beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season this fall. Under the agreement, Scripps will produce and distribute all Lightning preseason, regular season and first-round playoff games not picked up by national broadcasters such as ESPN or TNT.
As part of the new deal, Scripps will launch a second full-power local station in the Tampa-St. Petersburg market — WXPX-TV — which will serve as the Lightning’s new broadcast home. The station, branded “The Spot – Tampa Bay 66,” will debut July 1, featuring news and entertainment programming in addition to exclusive local Lightning broadcasts.
“The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL, and Bolts fans deserve easy access to all their games via cable, satellite, free over-the-air and streaming,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “The complement of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that fans can follow the games from their living room or wherever they are in their busy lives.”
To further expand access, Scripps is in discussions with cable and satellite providers to carry the channel, ensuring the games will be available not just over the air, but also on cable and satellite systems.
Vinik Sports Group CEO Steve Griggs echoed the enthusiasm, noting that the move reflects the organization’s commitment to accessibility.
“A world-class fan experience starts with access — and fans have made it clear they want it to be easier to find and watch our games,” Griggs said. “This partnership delivers on that. We’re looking forward to working with Brian Lawlor and the Scripps Sports team to expand our reach and bring the excitement of Lightning hockey to more homes across Tampa Bay.”
Additionally, the Lightning and Scripps Sports plan to introduce a new direct-to-consumer streaming experience. Powered by ViewLift, fans will be able to livestream games within the official Lightning app throughout the team’s regional broadcast territory. Further details will be released ahead of the upcoming season.
Rick Allen, CEO of ViewLift, emphasized the importance of seamless digital access. “We will make it easy for Bolts fans to stream games through their existing Lightning mobile apps and new apps on far more devices, helping the Lightning bring on-ice action and behind-the-scenes information and experiences to fans of all ages, at home or on the move.”
Scripps Sports also holds local NHL media rights to the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth.
Got some news 👀
We've teamed up with @ScrippsSports & @abcactionnews to provide fans throughout the Tampa Bay region an innovative, accessible & free way to enjoy Bolts hockey starting next season!
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T-Bob Hebert is leaving 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge to take a position with Barstool Sports in Chicago. He made the announcement earlier this morning on his Off The Bench morning program with Jacob Hester. Hebert said that his last program on the radio station will be this coming Friday, and he looks to begin with the digital sports giant soon.
Meanwhile, Hebert shared his thanks to his audience and staff while making the announcement.
“This Friday will be my last show here on Off The Bench,” said Hebert. “I know it’s all very sudden, but that is what happened here. I have been offered a job at Barstool Sports in the Chicago office. I’m very grateful to Dave (Portnoy) and Dan (Katz) for the incredible opportunity, and I’m going to chase it.”
Hebert, the son of former NFL quarterback Bobby Hebert, has hosted Off The Bench on weekday mornings for 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge for several years, with several affiliates throughout Louisiana. In addition, the former LSU Tigers offensive lineman also co-hosts a popular YouTube show, Snaps, alongside former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback and ESPN analyst Aaron Murray.
“I think the thing that I am feeling most is overwhelmed. I feel all of the feelings, and I feel them in the extreme,” said Hebert. “I am sad, happy, nervous, excited, scared, confident, but the thing I’m most is grateful.”
Earlier this year, in February, he also announced that he would be joining The Jim Rome Show as co-host of The Jim Rome After Hour, which airs on Rome’s FAST channel. That platform is available on services including Amazon Freevee, DirecTV, LG Channels, Plex, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, and VIZIO WatchFree+.
As of now, Hebert has not revealed what his exact role will be with Barstool Sports. Nevertheless, he expressed enthusiasm for the new venture and reiterated his gratitude for the opportunity.
“I do not take any of this lightly, and I’m very grateful to all of you,” noted Hebert. “I’m also very grateful to Dave and Dan for bringing me in and giving me this opportunity. I’m going to try to make the most out of it, but I’m going to miss this place terribly.”
I love you all! I am overwhelmed, but I tried to put my feelings into words that you can read here https://t.co/p9z1DdZ0NC
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The Region 2 winners of the Edward R. Murrow Awards have been announced, and stations like KFI AM 640, KNX News, and KCBS were big winners.
In the Radio | Large Market category, KCBS took home two awards for its coverage. The station earned the top honor for Breaking News Coverage for its wildfire coverage in the Oakland Hills neighborhood. KCBS also earned the award for best Newscast in the sector.
KFI AM 640 earned the top honor in the News Series category. Its feature Suicide: Stigma/Shame by news anchor Debra Mark, won the award in the large market radio group.
KNX News, meanwhile, took home two honors in the regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. The station earned the Excellence in Sound category win for its reporting on a local Renaissance Faire.
Additionally, KNX News earned the Overall Excellence honor from the RTDNA for its work throughout 2024.
Public radio stations took home the other honors throughout the sector, as stations like KQED (7 wins), KALW Public Media (1 win), and KPBS Public Media (1 win) also took home honors.
Each honor in the Radio | Small Market category was won by a public radio station as Hawaii Public Radio, KUNR Public Radio, 90.3 KAZU, and KCLU AM/FM swept the category.
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The buildup for the 2025 BNM Summit continues. Monday started with an announcement of tickets going on sale. Tuesday we shared the news of talk radio heavyweight and founder of TheBlaze, Glenn Beck joining us. Today, we have another big addition to reveal.
I am honored to welcome Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy to the 2025 BNM Summit lineup. Chris has been a supporter of ours for years, and has done a remarkable job building Newsmax into an industry powerhouse, including taking the company public in March. He founded Newsmax in 1998, launching it as a multimedia publisher with online and offline content in the fields of news, politics, health and finance. Under his guidance, Newsmax.com has been consistently ranked as one of the country’s most trafficked news websites.
An accomplished journalist, Chris worked for the New York Post and Pittsburgh Tribune Review before building Newsmax into a national success story. In his current role, Chris sees the industry through a different lens than most. I look forward to sitting down to chat with him about Newsmax’s growth, business lessons learned, the state of the industry, and much more on Wednesday September 3rd.
The 2025 BNM Summit presented by Newsmax is going to be a big event. After two years of growth in Nashville and Washington D.C., we’re excited to bring the conference for the first-time to NYC. Eight partners have already signed on, and additional opportunities are available. For sponsorship information, contact Stephanie Eads at Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com.
Unlike our past two shows, this year’s event will be shorter. The Summit festivities start with the Kickoff Party at the Park Central Hotel on Tuesday night September 2nd. Day 1 of the Summit takes place on Wednesday September 3rd from 9a-5p inside The Ailey Theater on West 55th Street. Immediately after Day 1, we’ll host an After Party from 6-8. We then cap it off on Thursday September 4th with 2-hours of content in The Ailey Theater from 10a-12p. The Premiere Networks Awards ceremony will close the show.
In addition, this is a special year for our brand as September marks 10-years in business for Barrett Media. To celebrate the occasion, we are throwing ‘The Barrett Bash‘, a special invite-only anniversary party on Thursday September 4th from 5p-8p. All attendees to the 2025 BNM Summit will receive a ticket to attend the private event. The Bash will unite professionals from all areas of the industry including news, sports, music, and more. Invitations will be sent out to industry professionals during the next month.
I’ll be announcing four top talents next week, and a couple of News/Talk radio’s top executives and program directors. I’m determined to make sure our lineup features the sharpest, most accomplished professionals in news media, and trust that the 2025 BNM Summit will be on your radar as a must attend event by the time we’ve finalized our schedule.
To join us in New York City for the industry’s premiere news/talk media conference, visit BNMSummit.com. Tickets are reduced to $224.99 thru June 30th. Prices increase to $324.99 on July 1st. Details on hotel room reservations can also be found on the Summit website. I hope to see you there.
Michael Jordan is coming back to the NBA. Just take a moment and let that sink in for a second, as the clouds of nostalgia flood your mind—posterizing dunks, last-second shots, and every step of The Last Dance. NBCUniversal made a huge splash at their annual upfront event on Monday morning as they announced that Jordan will be joining the network as a “special contributor” as the NBA returns to NBC for the first time since 2002.
I grew up as a child of the 1990s and call Chicago my home. I take a lot of pride in knowing that the greatest to ever lace up a pair of sneakers won six NBA championships in my backyard. There is an aura to His “Airness” in Chicago that only Gretzky feels in Edmonton and Brady feels in Boston. Titles leave legacies, and championships create opportunities when time runs out on an athlete’s career.
The question remains: Will Michael Jordan elevate to G.O.A.T. status on NBC, or will he just be another Brady or Gretzky?
NBC Sports did the right thing on Monday morning by announcing Jordan would be joining the network for the first season of their 11-year agreement with the NBA. It created the buzz, excitement, and intrigue the network desired. The topic was trending on social media and was a hot topic on sports radio across the country.
The network didn’t reveal exactly what the plan was for the six-time NBA champion; they just left it as “special contributor.”
Vague? Yes. But what exactly could that mean?
A legendary addition to our team!
We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Jordan as a special contributor to the NBA on NBC and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/Pjsq8tokfi
Does that mean Jordan will work a game a week? All three nights per week that NBC and Peacock will be devoting to league coverage? Or will Jordan’s appearances be based on certain matchups throughout the year?
NBC is keeping the audience guessing, and that’s the smartest play of all.
FOX Sports made the mistake of announcing Tom Brady’s massive 10-year contract while he was still playing football. The bigger mistake was elevating Brady to the top analyst booth without any prior experience, leapfrogging fan favorite Greg Olsen, who was demoted to number two.
FOX gave away the full game plan before Brady even hung up his cleats, which left his no mystery to what fans could expect.
TNT Sports announced Wayne Gretzky as lead analyst when the network was set to begin its NHL coverage in late 2021. They announced the full game plan for “The Great One”—key moments during the regular season, the Winter Classic, and throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the announcement seemed big for hockey fans, Gretzky quickly followed up in an interview with ESPN saying fans should expect him to be “way more positive than negative.”
Talk about wasting the surprise and killing the suspense.
NBC knows the mistakes of their competitors and didn’t reveal the full plan—something they should continue to do for the foreseeable future, leaving the audience hanging on to see what the big reveal will be.
There should be no media tour, no exclusive digital sit-down on The TodayShow, and nothing on social media. Leaving the audience with more questions than answers, creating more interest overall.
Will The Real “MJ” Please Stand Up
The larger question that remains—outside of what exactly Jordan will be doing—is how he’ll approach doing it. Jordan has never been one to share much opinion during his entire career. He was made famous for not taking public stances on issues, including during the 1990 U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, when he was quoted as saying, “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
That was a 27-year-old Jordan playing the proverbial line with politics. Can we expect a 62-year-old Jordan to be more opinionated on today’s NBA?
Jordan revisited that quote in 2020, when The Last Dance documentary was released, saying that he didn’t feel it needed to be corrected because “I said it in jest on a bus,” and he was “thrown off the cuff.” While Jordan should be more prepared for whatever comes with his “contributor” role at NBC Sports, can we expect the same hesitation to be critical or take a stance in a game that contains a plethora of controversy?
Tom Brady was ridiculed in his first full season as the lead analyst on FOX Sports for taking soft stances on big issues and showing a lack of self-awareness—whether real or perceived. He walked in with the largest paycheck an analyst has ever gotten and was handed the keys to the Cadillac without learning the craft. Viewers were expecting so much more from the man who won seven Super Bowls and yielded that payday from the network. By the end of the season, if you were watching a game he was calling, you probably wouldn’t have even noticed.
Wayne Gretzky set his tone before he even hit the air, stating he would be more positive than critical. His TV appearances were limited, and the analysis he provided in short doses was more comical than compelling. TNT Sports didn’t shine the spotlight on Gretzky as they should have, and his addition to their coverage fell flat—and has never fully recovered.
Michael Jordan must answer the call for basketball fans around the country once again in a society that craves opinion with substance and depth. Basketball fans don’t want the Michael Jordan who refused to take a political stance in an attempt to do business with both sides of the aisle.
Basketball fans want the Michael Jordan they saw in The Last Dance—cigar in mouth, baseball bat in hand—saying, “That’s the sign of a good man. If he can talk s**t when it’s even score, or talk s**t when you’re behind the score. When you’re ahead, it’s easy to talk.”
That’s the “MJ” basketball fans want. That’s the Michael Jordan basketball fans need.
Stephen A. Smith asked the same question earlier this week on First Take.
“I just want to know—is it going to be the Michael Jordan that you see on television, or is it going to be the Michael Jordan we speak to?” questioned Smith on Monday. “If it’s the Michael Jordan that we speak to, it’s going to be epic. Lord have mercy!”
Taking The Lead From “The Round Mound Of Rebound”
Jordan should look to his former teammate on “The Dream Team” as the example of how to take the approach to television. Basketball fans have flocked to the unabashed honesty of Charles Barkley for over twenty years. That tone and approach by “Sir Charles” has made Inside the NBA the signature NBA programming for league discussion that fans demand of their former superstar players.
Without question, Michael Jordan is one of the most competitive athletes to ever grace the world of sport. His desire to be the best drove his playing career to heights untouched since his retirement.
His post-playing ambition to own an NBA franchise and serve as Managing Member of Basketball Operations resulted in disaster for the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets. His drive for greatness led to some of the worst draft picks of all time—Kwame Brown, Adam Morrison—and a record-worst 7–59 season in 2011–2012.
What NBC is providing Jordan is a new lease on his basketball life.
A man with nothing left to prove on the court, but everything still left to prove off of it. Jordan should approach this last chance as he did The Last Dance, with the same competitive edge he had playing at arenas around the country.
By remaining quiet until showtime, fans will hang on Jordan’s every word.
By being honest, fans will develop an affinity for Jordan’s authentic perspective on today’s game.
By being the “MJ” we all grew up with and saw portrayed in The Last Dance, every single moment will carry more impact than any game ever called by Tom Brady or comment ever made by Wayne Gretzky.
If there were ever a better time to “Be Like Mike,” NBC Sports would be wise to get out of the damn way—and let Mike be Mike.
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The wall-to-wall coverage from Rome of the ascension of Pope Leo XIV blew everything else off the screen. High profile anchors like NBC’s Lester Holt, ABC’s Martha Raddatz and David Muir, along with CBS’s Norah O’Donnell reported live for days.
The coverage seemed to be about a million times greater because of Leo’s Chicago roots. Hosting ABC’s This Week on Sunday from Rome, Raddatz said, “You really don’t feel the enormity of all this until you walk among the people…it was a remarkable scene. Thousands filling this space to hear the Pope’s words” as she gestured toward St. Peter’s Square.
The first American, promoted by Pope Francis, Robert “Bob” Prevost from Chicago, was elected to try to fill his considerable shoes.
It was a joyful event for millions around the world, as Pope Leo took to the balcony calling for peace, and building bridges, to bring together a divided world and the Catholic church.
Norah O’Donnell called it an “electric moment” as she watched “tens of thousands of people from all over the world cheer.” She added that Pope Leo is viewed as a “unifying voice for progressives and conservatives.” She may be right, and his election will prove to be a watershed moment for the American church that has been steadily losing members.
Pope Leo shook hands with NBC’s Lester Holt, who specifically asked him if there is any chance of getting back home, “meaning Chicago, the United States.” He said, “I don’t think so. I think that falls in line with what we’ve been hearing. They’ve got a lot of work to do. He has a lot of work to do here at the Vatican.”
Leo told a crowd of more than 1,000 journalists, including the Vatican Press Corps, that we need to find a path to peace and “disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred.” He received standing ovations from those attending. And he buoyed those, like me, who believe that coverage of the Pope should be balanced and respectful.
He added, “We do not need loud, forceful communication but rather communication that is capable of listening.” And he spoke of “the precious gift of free speech and of the press.” This echoed Francis’ comments in 2021 that some in conservative media are “bad-mouthing” him, adding they are the “work of the devil.”
The infighting began within minutes of his selection. Some in the media started to report on criticism about Leo’s handling of priest abuse cases during his two decades in Peru. So much for a honeymoon.
For the most part, TV networks interviewed guests who were pro-Leo and raised a few questions about allegations of his failure to investigate priest abuse claims. In a six-minute segment, Raddatz interviewed Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, including one question about abuse cases. Cupich responded that Leo reached out to victims, has a record of conducting investigations, and reported information to authorities.
MSNBC reported that many of Trump’s MAGA supporters were already attacking what they see as Pope Leo’s left-leaning views. And that includes the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Leo’s social media account, when he was a Cardinal, showed he was not shy about criticizing him or Vice President Vance. He reposted a link saying, “JD Vance: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
Pope Leo XIV was elevated to Cardinal by Francis two years ago, overseeing the selection of new bishops from around the world. The two are known for embracing the poor and immigrants, and for their focus on social justice and global outreach. To many, it seems Leo will carry on the major tenets of Francis’ papacy, some going so far as to say he will be Francis II.
It was a relief to many, including myself, to see the continuation of Francis’ efforts to challenge the divide in the Catholic church. While the majority of pundits across most broadcast and cable networks extolled the virtues of this approach to leadership for days after his election, it has become acceptable for some in conservative Catholic media to dismiss and insult their leaders.
One thing I like about Pope Leo’s initial debut is that, like Francis, he understands the importance of speaking to the media. Even days after Leo appeared on the loggia, the media can’t get enough. The New York Times even profiled Leo’s mother. And his brother, Louis Prevost, briefly became a media darling doing endless interviews and confirming that his sibling is indeed a White Sox fan. But yesterday he restricted his incendiary pro-MAGA Facebook posts, telling Piers Morgan he would “probably tone it down.”
The media seemed to be on the same page about communicating. One anchor, who I got to know in Rome, said journalists almost always got along and everyone played nicely in the sandbox. She said that the only point of tension was when the water cooler wasn’t working or the coffee pot was empty.
It remains to be seen how the new Pope fares over time, but in my view, what’s clear so far is that the Cardinals did not elect a radical leader. In covering him, I admire his attitude.
Here again, he reminds me of Pope Francis, whom I met twice, once in Rome and once in Washington. In 2015, he came to North America for his first state visit, and I was one of the leaders of the team that coordinated media coverage and messaging around his trip. His soft-spoken manner and humble demeanor brought comfort to many who were lucky enough to be in his presence, especially the poor he met as they were being served lunch.
(Photo: Lauren Ashburn)
I don’t believe I’ll be able to meet Pope Leo, but I’ll surely be watching him carefully, hoping he will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.
It seems he’ll be watching his native country. When a NewsNation reporter asked the Pope, “Any message for the United States?” He gave a one-word answer: “Many.” He paused and then added, ”God bless you all.”
Amen.
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I am aware this is not a subject where exact science comes into play, and opinions will most likely vary wildly, but I got to thinking this week: Who are the core artists for Hot AC right now and who may get themselves on the list in the next year or two?
Another question came to mind while thinking about those first two: Does Hot AC need core artists these days, or should it be more like Top 40, just finding the best songs and not focusing on any sense of artist development?
My answer to that last question is YES, Hot AC should have core artists and do their part in artist development, while also finding the best songs at the time to play for their audience. Hot AC traditionally has not been the format to break new music, although some stations have been better at doing that than others. Without a doubt, there are exceptions such as Lewis Capaldi, who grew more from Hot AC to Top 40 instead of the other way around.
Overall, though, the format is more reflective of the songs that have worked at Top 40, Alternative, and, in some cases, AAA. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s look back ten years to the year 2015.
Back then, I think you could safely say that Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Kelly Clarkson, Ed Sheeran, and Katy Perry could all be considered core to the format. Fast-forward to today, and I think you can say Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter and the two holdovers, Ed and Taylor, are on the list.
For Ed and Taylor, that is a big accomplishment, ten years of staying power at an adult format that seems to push harder to appeal to the young end of the demo. Now, your lists may vary slightly, like I stated, this is not an exact science.
Over the last week, I polled some of my Hot AC programmer friends to see their answers to the second question I put forth in this piece. Who, in your opinion, is the artist with the best chance to make it to the “core” level in the next year or two?
One of them told me it’s a challenge since so many come and go quickly, but you feel at the time they are in the spotlight that they will just keep growing into being core. They said look at Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, and Halsey!
Some of the names I got from these programmers, and I can’t argue with their assessments, are Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Myles Smith, Gracie Abrams, Tate McRae, Teddy Swims, and Billie Eilish.
Will any of those eventually be considered core to the format? Time will tell, but I think the biggest takeaway for Hot AC programmers is to find the best songs, no matter the genre, while also searching for depth from those artists with the songs they choose.
Be proactive with your listening and discovery. The Hot AC audience is open to becoming vested in the artists we play. They are eager to hear more than just one big hit if it is there.
View those songs as not-so-secret weapons, the special sauce that can help you stand out from a Top 40 competitor in your market.
One thing is for sure: the way things move and with attention spans being more minuscule by the day, the core artist list for Hot AC will most likely be drastically different in two years, with at least a few artists we are unaware of currently.
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