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NBA National Television Broadcasts Down 2% Year-Over-Year: Report

BSM Staff
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NBA National Television Broadcasts Down 2% Year-Over-Year: Report

National television broadcasts of the National Basketball Association on ABC, ESPN and TNT reportedly averaged a collective 1.53 million viewers on the season, representing a 2% decline from the previous year. The reported decline takes place as the National Hockey League is also down 13% on the year despite several landmark occurrences, including Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin breaking the all-time goals record. Colin Salao of Front Office Sports was the first to report this viewership data for the regular season as the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament commences on Tuesday night.

Broken down by individual networks, the ESPN networks were flat from the previous year but games exclusive to the primary cable network were said to be down by 7%. NBA games on ABC, which is also owned by The Walt Disney Company, reportedly averaged 2.68 million viewers over 24 games, marking a 10% increase from the last year.

ESPN recently divulged its best first quarter viewership as measured by Nielsen Media Research since 2017, attaining an average minute audience of 868,000 viewers over the 90-day stretch.

In its final season with live game broadcast rights for the NBA, games on TNT were said to be down by 8% from the previous year. Warner Bros. Discovery will retain rights to display highlights across its platforms under a settlement with the NBA after it was unable to secure a new media rights deal with the league.

Starting next season, NBA games will be televised by The Walt Disney Company, Comcast Corporation and Amazon under 11-year deals reportedly worth a collective $76 billion that places games across broadcast and cable television along with streaming platforms. The award-winning studio program Inside the NBA featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny “The Jet” Smith will be sublicensed to Disney and is expected to air surrounding marquee games and events.

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.

‘rapfabulous’ Launches With Mic Fox And Jazzie Belle

BMM Staff
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‘rapfabulous’ Launches With Mic Fox And Jazzie Belle

Audacy and syndicator Superradio is launching a new weekend show, “rapfabulous,” hosted by Mic Fox and Jazzie Belle.

The show, dedicated to classic Hip-Hop culture and history, will debut this weekend in Chicago and New York.

Rapfabulous will highlight legacy artists, iconic tracks, and pivotal moments that shaped Hip-Hop culture on Saturday mornings on 104.3 Jams in Chicago and Sunday afternoons on 94.7 The Block in New York. The show will also be available for national streaming on the Audacy app.

Audacy Format, Vice President of Rhythmic AC and Throwback Skip Dillard, said, “Since celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, we saw how important it is to amplify the voices that shaped this influential genre. We’re excited to deepen our listeners’ understanding of this historic format through Mic and Jazzie’s insightful perspective and give a platform to legacy artists to share their journey in the genre.”

Mic Fox brings decades of industry experience. His career highlights include serving as Program Director and Vice President of Digital Strategy and Content at Emmis Communications, and he played a pivotal role in the launch of Vevo during his time at Universal Music Group.

Jazzie Belle launched her radio career with the late DJ Kay Slay on SiriusXM’s Shade 45. In 2017, she established the Women in Hip-Hop podcast, now hosted by the Revolt Podcast Network. Beyond her work in podcasting, she has served as a host for BET and Vibe.com and currently contributes to PIX11 News while hosting TheInsideHollywood.net.

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.

Heaviest Radio Listeners Utilizing AM/FM Radio Dropped 18% in Decade, Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2025 Data Shows

BNM Staff
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Heaviest Radio Listeners Utilizing AM/FM Radio Dropped 18% in Decade, Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2025 Data Shows

Data from the latest Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2025 shows that radio listeners have moved away from AM/FM radio in large numbers over the past decade.

In the 2016 version of the study, 77% of respondents said that in a typical week, they listen to their favorite radio brands on terrestrial broadcast radio, whether it be in their car or another broadcast radio application. In 2025, that figure had fallen to 59%, after being as high as 85% in the initial survey in 2013.

Coinciding with that drop was the rise of listening in digital apps. In 2016, 20% of respondents said they listened to their favorite AM/FM radio brands on mobile, computers, smart speakers, podcasts, or on smart TVs. By 2025, that figure had risen to 39%, a 19% uptick in the decade. During the initial survey in 2013, only 14% of listeners said digital was their preferred method of consumption.

Despite the increase in digital listening, the latest Jacobs Media study shows that smart speaker ownership has stalled in recent years.

39% of respondents in the Techsurvey 2025 said they owned a smart speaker. That’s the identical number from 2024 and only a 1% increase from 2023. Since 2020, smart speaker ownership has only risen by 4% overall.

Gen X is the most likely generation to own a smart speaker at 44%, closely followed by millennials at 43%. Gen Z is only slightly more likely to own a smart speaker compared to boomers, with 36% of the younger generation and 34% of the older sector claiming ownership.

Music station listeners were more likely than spoken word station consumers were more likely to own smart speakers. 40% of music listeners owned smart speakers compared to 32% of spoken word listeners.

So, if smart speaker ownership has largely stalled, but digital listening continues to rise, where are listeners consuming radio brands?

While an individual brand’s station website remains the top dog on the block, its influence has shrunk in the past half-decade. Since 2020, listening from a station website has dropped by 8%, down from 68% in 2020 to 60% in 2025.

Station mobile apps have risen from 42% in 2020 to 48% in 2025. However, that has dropped from 2024, when 51% of respondents said they used an individual station app to listen to their favorite brands.

Smart speaker usage has remained relatively steady. Sitting at 22% in 2020, it has slowly risen to 28% in 2025, which is identical to the figure it earned in 2024. It has only risen 2% since the 2021 survey when it jumped from 22% to 26% overall, the Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2025 data revealed.

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.

SportsRadio 610 Host Clint Stoerner Inducted Into Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

BSM Staff
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SportsRadio 610 Host Clint Stoerner Inducted Into Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

SportsRadio 610 host Clint Stoerner was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame on April 11 during the organization’s 67th annual induction banquet at the Oaklawn Event Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Stoerner, who co-hosts The Drive with Clint Stoerner and Ron Hughley weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. CT, was honored for his accomplishments both on and off the field.

“We are so proud of Clint and his accomplishments both on and off the field. Not only is he a premier sports radio host who was a finalist the same night for Media Alliance of Houston as Sports Specialist, but he is a great teammate to all of us in the building,” said Sarah Frazier, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Houston. “His passion for Houston sports is unmatched. We congratulate him, Lorin and the girls on this outstanding accomplishment.”

Originally from Baytown, Texas, Stoerner began his broadcasting career with SportsRadio 610 as a fill-in host in 2018. He joined the station full-time in 2019 and has since become a key voice in Houston sports media.

Before stepping behind the microphone, Stoerner made a name for himself on the football field. He was a standout quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1996 to 1999. His athletic achievements have now earned him a place in a prestigious 2025 Hall of Fame class that includes notable names such as Felix Jones, Oliver Miller, and Bev Lewis.

Stoerner was a two-time second team All-SEC player for Arkansas and was part of the Razorbacks’ 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic champion team, their first bowl victory since the 1985 Holiday Bowl and first Cotton Bowl win since 1976. His professional career took him to stops with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in the NFL, and several Arena Football League appearances where he threw for 146 touchdowns and 7,959 yards passing.

His induction not only reflects his impact as a Razorback but also highlights his continued excellence in the world of sports media.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

‘The Dave & Mahoney Show’ Picks Up Ten New Affiliates

BMM Staff
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‘The Dave & Mahoney Show’ Picks Up Ten New Affiliates

Compass Media Network’s “The Dave & Mahoney Show” has added ten new affiliates across the US.

Dave Farra, co-host of “The Dave and Mahoney Show,” said, “We’re incredibly excited about the growth and engagement the show is experiencing in markets across the country. In a time when there’s so much heaviness in the world, audiences are really responding to the lighthearted, good-natured investigative fun we bring to the ridiculous moments of everyday life. As longtime friends with a natural chemistry, it’s easy for us to invite listeners to the party. We look forward to building even stronger connections with our listeners and station partners for years to come.”

Lynn Martin, CEO/President of LM Communications, added, “Adding this show to our Lexington, KY and Charleston, SC Markets reflects the show’s growing appeal and their ability to connect with audiences across diverse markets. The Dave & Mahoney Show is the real deal!”

New Affiliates:

WBVX-FM – LM Communications, Inc. – Lexington, KY

KNRQ-FM – Cumulus Media, Inc. – Eugene, OR

WPTQ-FM – 7 Mountains Media – Bowling Green, KY

WMGM-FM – Longport Media – Atlantic City-Cape May, NJ

WPKE-FM – Mountain Top Media, LLC – Pikeville, KY

KMKF-FM – Manhattan Broadcasting Co., Inc. – Salina-Manhattan, KS

KTED-FM – Breck Media Group Wyoming – Casper-Riverton, WY

WWGM-FM – Southern Broadcasting LLC – Selmer, TN

KCRT-FM – Phillips Broadcasting Inc. – Trinidad, CO

KHUN-FM – Eastern Utah Broadcasting Co. – Huntington, UT

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.

Audacy Country Stations Shuffle Talent And Lineups

BMM Staff
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Audacy Country Stations Shuffle Talent And Lineups

Audacy Country stations are implementing lineup changes at several locations throughout their footprint. As initially reported by RadioInsight, these changes involve current personalities assuming additional responsibilities in other markets.

US 99 Chicago PD Marci Braun checks in with news that PM Driver Scotty Kay is adding afternoons at 102.9 The Wolf in Minneapolis. Kay also hosts afternoons at 107.7 The Wolf in Buffalo and a Sunday show for the company’s Country stations.

Sean “Coop” Taylor will take over afternoons at 100.7 The Wolf in Seattle while hosting the PM drive at 99.5 WYCD in Detroit alongside Sarah Thomas and 99.9 Kiss Country in Miami.

Also, in Riverside, morning host Kelli Green adds afternoons at 99.5 The Wolf in Portland.

99.7 The Wolf Memphis’ Erin Austin picks up PM drive at 92.5 WBEE in Rochester while continuing to host afternoons at 93.1 The Wolf in Greensboro.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

ESPN Announces Broadcast Plans for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces Broadcast Plans for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay

The Walt Disney Company and ESPN will provide complete coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft across multiple platforms as the league brings its marquee offseason event to the historic Lambeau Field. Scheduled for Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26, the draft will span 14 hours and feature all 257 picks as college prospects begin their journey into the professional ranks.

Coverage will air across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and ESPN’s social media channels. In addition, ESPN will bolster its live programming with onsite studio shows, including extended versions of NFL Live, College GameDay, The Pat McAfee Show, SportsCenter, and segments from ABC’s Good Morning America and more.

Adding to the talent lineup, Adam Schefter will deliver the latest news and insights throughout the draft, keeping viewers informed with real-time updates. Meanwhile, ESPN college football reporter Molly McGrath will be stationed on the main NFL Draft stage, where she will interview prospects immediately following their selection.

On ABC, Rece Davis will return to host for the seventh time, joined by 2025 Sports Emmy nominees Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban, along with 1992 NFL draftee and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard.

NFL Draft analyst Field Yates will team up with college football and NFL reporter Laura Rutledge in the green room during the first round, offering interviews with draftees’ families and behind-the-scenes access. College football insider Pete Thamel will also contribute with up-to-the-minute news and analysis. On Friday night, Yates will move to the main desk and join the on-set crew.

ESPN’s newest NFL analyst, Peter Schrager, will make his ESPN NFL Draft debut during Saturday’s presentation. He will join Schefter in delivering breaking news and updates. Assuming their positions at the main desk, Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Yates, NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, and Davis will analyze every pick through the conclusion of the draft on Saturday afternoon.

Additionally, ESPN will have live coverage from team facilities. Reporters assigned to clubs with five of the top nine picks include:

  • Jeff Darlington – Tennessee Titans
  • Jeremy Fowler – Cleveland Browns
  • Sal Paolantonio – New York Giants
  • Mike Reiss – New England Patriots
  • Lindsey Thiry – New Orleans Saints

Returning to Green Bay is The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular, led by 2009 NFL draftee Pat McAfee and featuring his signature style. He’ll be joined by Darius Butler (2009 NFL draftee), Connor Campbell, Tone Digs, 2006 NFL draftee AJ Hawk, and Ty Schmit. The group will provide commentary on each pick, with additional high-profile guests expected to join throughout the evening.

Since 1980, ESPN has televised the NFL Draft, reaffirming the network’s long-standing commitment to delivering fans comprehensive access to one of the league’s most anticipated off-the-field events.

On opening night, Thursday, April 24 at 8 p.m. ET, ESPN and ABC will offer two distinct viewing experiences. ESPN will focus on NFL teams and player performance, highlighting athletic achievements and impact on the field. Meanwhile, ABC will continue its storytelling approach for a seventh straight year, highlighting the personal journeys and lesser-known stories of the draftees.

Coverage of rounds two and three continues Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on both ESPN and ABC, with both networks maintaining their unique coverage style. On Saturday, April 26, the final day of the draft begins at 12 p.m. ET, with ESPN’s nearly seven-hour broadcast of rounds 4 through 7 simulcast on ABC.

In addition to ESPN and ABC, the full 2025 NFL Draft will also be televised on NFL Network and streamed live across NFL digital properties.

ESPN’s primary set will be located inside the NFL Draft Theater near Lambeau Field, while ABC and The Pat McAfee Show will broadcast from sets positioned just outside the stadium’s Atrium.

Fans will have multiple ways to follow every moment of the draft including on ESPN Radio where host Chris Carlin will lead coverage with 2004 NFL draftee Max Starks making his NFL Draft debut, alongside NFL front office insider Mike Tannenbaum, college football reporter Ian Fitzsimmons, and NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid. Positioned inside the Resch Center, the team will conduct live interviews with several on-site draftees.

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.

WJR 760 Host Guy Gordon Exits

BNM Staff
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WJR 760 Host Guy Gordon Exits

WJR 760 morning host Guy Gordon has exited the Cumulus Media Detroit news/talk station after declining a pay cut and a shift in the station’s lineup.

Gordon informed listeners on Tuesday morning that it was his final show with the venerable station after he was asked to take a pay cut — of what he called 60% — and not accept the raise included in his contract that lasted until 2026.

Additionally, Gordon claims he was asked to move to the 2-4 PM timeslot currently occupied by Chris Renwick.

“I was told it was a purely financial decision,” Gordon told the Detroit Free-Press. “If this is the end of the career, I have no grievances. I’m Lou Gehrig without the horrible disease. I’m the luckiest man on Earth.”

Gordon added that he didn’t know his job was in jeopardy. “I probably should have,” he admitted. “Radio is really tough now.”

Gordon had been morning host on the station since June 2023, replacing Paul W. Smith in the daypart, where he had been since 1996. The 66-year-old Gordon originally joined WJR 760 in 2017 as an early afternoon host after working in television in the city from 1984 until 2016.

After the exit of Guy Gordon, co-hosts Lloyd Jackson and Jamie Edmonds will continue to host JR Morning from 6-9 AM.

Despite his departure, Gordon said that he’s “not a retiring guy” and that he’d still consider working at WJR or somewhere else in some capacity.

The exit of Gordon over compensation comes as Cumulus Media has been in the midst of shutting down underperforming AM radio signals in recent weeks. The company has silenced several stations around the country, including some FM brands, in an effort to contain costs.

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.

OutKick Sees 20% Uptick in Unique Visitors During March

BNM Staff
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OutKick Sees 20% Uptick in Unique Visitors During March

OutKick has seen growth on multiple fronts in recent months. That continued in March as the outlet founded by Clay Travis saw a 20% increase in unique visitors compared to the same month in 2024.

During the third month of the year, more than 6.6 million unique visitors reached the site between its desktop and mobile functionality, according to Comscore.

Additionally, it saw 29 million total multiplatform views. That marks a 21% year-over-year increase. It also saw an 18% increase in multiplatform minutes compared to the same window last year, up to 27 million minutes.

“It comes with no surprise that March was a great month for OutKick,” said Senior Vice President and Managing Editor Gary Schreier. “The platform was not only the tip of the spear on March Madness coverage but also led the news cycle after founder Clay Travis interviewed President Donald Trump on Air Force One. This is one of many examples of how OutKick continues to provide engaging content, including conversations with people you wouldn’t see on your standard sports show.”

The interview between Travis and Trump marked the first time the outlet appeared as part of the White House Correspondents Association pool seat marked for new media.

On social media, OutKick featured 15.2 million video views between Facebook, X, and YouTube, which is a 2% increase. Overall, the outlet saw 1.3 million social actions between Facebook, X, and Instagram, which is a 31% increase year over year.

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.

Dan Le Batard: Pablo Torre Needs To Do His Job and Not Complain About What We’re Doing Around Here

BSM Staff
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Dan Le Batard: Pablo Torre Needs To Do His Job and Not Complain About What We’re Doing Around Here

During the first segment of Monday’s Dan Le Batard Show, while the program was organizing their plan for the rest of the two-hour broadcast, producer Jessica Smetana mentioned at one point during the broadcast how fellow Meadowlark Media teammate Pablo Torre is upset with the program. Specifically, she explained Torre was upset over the show not watching a recent episode of his podcast surrounding Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.

Furthermore, Smetana said that the show collectively admitted they didn’t watch the episode, with even co-host Greg Cote claiming he watched it on his TV in Florida—despite the episode not being televised. As she continued, stating she felt the show had failed their friend, Le Batard jumped in.

“I disagree; I disagree. I think that Pablo can make his wonderful things and run around with his rhythmic gymnastics ribbon. Then go over there and spend time with Joe Scarborough as starch Joe Scarborough tries to make him the model minority on MSNBC. That makes it okay for him to go to the White House,” Le Batard explained. “Pablo needs to just do his job and not complain about what we’re doing around here.”

The comment left several members of the Le Batard team momentarily speechless. Eventually, one producer voiced agreement with what Le Batard was saying.

“We’re fine here, funding his projects and his fun,” noted Le Batard. “He can be mad that occasionally we’re not listening to them, because Greg Cote surprises us by remembering something he shouldn’t and couldn’t remember. He can do his job, and we will do our job.”

At that point, Smetana broke in to steer the conversation in a different direction, suggesting the show may need some “corporate cleansing” of their own.

To provide context, Torre joined Meadowlark Media—a company founded by Le Batard—in 2023, launching his podcast and web series Pablo Torre Finds Out in September of that year. Additionally, Meadowlark Media signed a $50 million multi-year rights deal with DraftKings in 2021, securing rights to broadcast The Dan Le Batard Show and all its content on the DraftKings Network.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

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