UTA Partner Jeremy Barber & Comms Vet Chris Day Join KCRW Board
EXCLUSIVE: United Talent Agency Partner and Agent Jeremy Barber and Communications veteran Chris Day have joined the board of Southern California's NPR flagship station KCRW.
This move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump issuing an executive order to block federal funding to Public Broadcast Service and National Public Radio. Funding from both government and philanthropic sources has grown increasingly uncertain, while the information landscape is more fragmented than ever. In this environment, stations like KCRW play a key role in bridging divides, elevating underrepresented voices, and providing reliable, in-depth reporting at the local and global levels.
More from Deadline
Ruth Seymour Dies: Groundbreaking Longtime KCRW General Manager Was 88
KCRW Workers Choose SAG-AFTRA As Their Union
Dave Franco & Alison Brie Accused Of Copyright Infringement In 'Together' Suit
Barber and Day's addition to the KCRW Foundation signals the Board's heightened commitment to preserving the role of public media as a trusted source of news, music, and thoughtful conversation for all communities.
'This is a critical moment for public broadcasting,' said Jennifer Ferro, President of KCRW. 'At a time when disinformation is rampant, journalism is under constant threat, and arts funding continues to shrink, the value of an independent, nonprofit public media outlet like KCRW cannot be overstated. Jeremy and Chris deeply understand the cultural and civic importance of what we do, and we are incredibly fortunate to welcome their guidance and support.'
Barber said, 'Public radio is an essential element of a free and democratic nation. KCRW's commitment to storytelling, music discovery and fostering community is more critical than ever as we begin to rebuild and reimagine the future fabric of Los Angeles and beyond. I am so excited to be joining Jennifer and the board in this fight to preserve and expand the role of KCRW and the public airwaves.'
Day added, 'In an era of media consolidation and extreme partisanship, public broadcasting remains one of the last strongholds of truly independent journalism and creative expression. Joining the KCRW board is not just an honor—it's a call to action. We must protect this institution and ensure it thrives for the next generation.'
Barber, a Partner in UTA's Motion Picture Literary and Talent Departments, is known for his work repping celebrated filmmakers, actors, and creators. Prior to UTA, Barber was President of Catch 23 and Catch 23 UK, the production and management company which he helped found, and was also head of Production and Acquisitions at Artisan Entertainment. Prior to Hollywood, Barber had stints in law and politics. Of the boards he serves or has served on are the Georgetown University Law School Board of Visitors, the Telluride Film Festival's Esteemed Council of Advisors, the board of The People Concern, and the Independent School Alliance Board of Directors. He was also Chairman of the Board of the UCLA Lab School for almost a decade, where he now maintains an emeritus position. Barber currently is a Storytelling Consultant to Harvard College through Harvard Divinity School's Center for the Study of World Religions' Constellation Project around narratives surrounding the climate crisis.
Day is a strategic communications and branding consultant and a 25-year veteran of the media and entertainment industry. He provides advisory services to CEOs, founders and creative entrepreneurs and represents leading companies and organizations across entertainment and media. Prior to forming his consultancy, Day served as Head of Corporate Communications for UTA from 1999 until 2017. During his tenure, he built and led the agency's widely respected corporate communications department, overseeing all external and internal communications during the agency's growth into a global top three player. He also co-established the UTA Foundation and the company's research and analytics department and was heavily involved in the firm's corporate consulting practice, among other initiatives. Prior to UTA, Day was VP of film & TV comms firm Bumble Ward & Associates where he represented corporate clients in television. Day has also championed causes that reflect the diverse voices and values of the broader community, including his work for Rideback RISE, the non-profit content accelerator that supports diverse filmmakers and creators in making commercial film and television to drive narrative change.
KCRW 89.9 FM is home to such shows as Morning Becomes Eclectic, Press Play, Good Food, The Treatment, and The Business and serves as an incubator for new talent and ideas. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW reaches millions around the globe through its on-air broadcasts, podcasts, events, and digital content.
Best of Deadline
TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far
Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025
2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Steve Bannon Calls Musk ‘National Security Issue,' Says He 'May Be Here Illegally'
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon seized an opportunity to air his grievances with Elon Musk amid the SpaceX founder's blowup with President Donald Trump. In a Friday interview with NPR, Bannon was asked about prior comments that Trump should cancel all government contracts with Musk. The tech mogul's companies, which include Tesla, SpaceX and artificial intelligence startup xAI, have been given billions in federal dollars over the years, according to The New York Times. 'I think we have as a country a national security issue here,' Bannon said Friday, adding that Musk has a reportedly 'massive drug problem' and a 'deep financial and business relationship' with China. The MAGA podcaster continued, 'And we know he's asked for private briefings of top secret information.' The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Musk had requested a Pentagon briefing on plans for a potential war with China. Trump told reporters at the time that Musk would not see the plans, citing his business ties to China as a conflict of interest. The formerly Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, a team tasked with rooting out supposed fraud and waste within the federal government, has drawn scrutiny over its access to classified materials and the personal information of U.S. citizens. Bannon then doubled down on his call to investigate Musk's immigration status. 'You have someone whose legal status is in question,' he told NPR, adding that you 'can't deport people from all over the world' and 'leave a white South African, who may be here illegally, here.' Bannon, who pleaded guilty this year to scamming people who donated money towards building a wall at the U.S. Southern border, added, 'It's just not right.' The South African-born Musk is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Last year, The Washington Post reported that Musk was working illegally in the U.S. at the beginning of his career in the 1990s, though Musk denied the allegation. Bannon has never been Musk's biggest fan, previously calling him a 'parasitic illegal immigrant' and a 'truly evil guy.' Speaking to NPR on Friday, Bannon theorized about the root of Musk's falling out with Trump and added one more insult to the roster: an '11-year-old child.' 'He hasn't turned up any fraud,' Bannon said, criticizing Musk's efforts at DOGE. 'So there's been a lot of tension. And Elon Musk, like the 11-year-old child he is, didn't take it very well.' Donald Trump Says He's 'Very Disappointed' In Elon Musk As Rift Grows Trump And Musk's Messy Public Breakup Only Goes So Far Musk-Trump Spat Hits New High As Musk's Ex Piles On
New York Post
9 hours ago
- New York Post
Pete Hegseth reveals why military recruitment has soared under Trump
Joining 'Fox & Friends' live from Normandy, France, where Allied forces once stormed the beaches to turn the tide of World War II, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth honored the 81st anniversary of D-Day with a message that looked not only to the past but to the future. As the nation honors the bravery and sacrifices of World War II veterans, Hegseth emphasized a new wave of patriotism among today's young Americans – one he says is driving an uptick in military recruitment. Advertisement 'It's historic. Of course it's a morale shift. It shifts back to the day President Trump was elected and then inaugurated,' he said Friday. The Army alone has posted the best recruiting numbers in years, reaching 61,000 for fiscal year 2025, with four months remaining. That's an increase of more than 6,000 from 55,150 in fiscal year 2024. Hegseth told co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Lawrence Jones and Brian Kilmeade that the spirit inside the U.S. armed forces is 'incredible' right now, and the morale shift isn't isolated to the Army. 'It's also the Air Force, it's also the Navy, it is also the Marine Corps, Coast Guard and, as the president says, law enforcement,' he continued. Advertisement 4 Pete Hegseth emphasized a new wave of patriotism driving military recruitment under Donald Trump while on Fox & Friends discussing the D-Day 81st anniversary ceremony in Normandy. FOX News 'Across the board, the spirit of our country, [there's a] willingness and desire to serve, because they see leadership that believes in the country that's going to have their back, that says, 'We want you to be warriors. We're not doing this politically correct garbage anymore. We're doing war fighting. We're training, we're preparing, we're focused on [getting] back to basics, and… the young people of America have responded, and they'll continue to respond.' 4 'Across the board, the spirit of our country, [there's a] willingness and desire to serve, because they see leadership that believes in the country that's going to have their back,' Hegseth said. AFP via Getty Images 4 Hegseth gives a speech during an International Commemorative Ceremony of the 81st Anniversary of the Landing of June 6, 1944, in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, north western France. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 4 President Donald Trump and superintendent Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland salute graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point in Michie Stadium on May 24 in West Point, NY. Getty Images Hegseth attended this year's ceremony where military officials and veterans commemorated the 81st anniversary of D-Day. He started his morning with a physical training session with rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment on Omaha Beach at nearly the same time as the first landing craft would have hit in 1944. 'These men [World War II soldiers] were willing to charge toward the guns with almost no chance of success, especially in those first waves, and they did it for us,' he said. Advertisement Days ago, the defense secretary honored the sacrifices of U.S. armed forces at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where he greeted a number of World War II veterans whose resolve remains high more than half a century later. 'The contrast of those 100-year-old World War II vets and then those 25-year old Army Rangers that I did a workout with this morning – the blood of fighting for freedom still pumps in the veins of Americans, and we still raise those types, and that's what was really cool to see.'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dropkick Murphys and Veterans Rally Against Trump for ‘Disrespecting the Vets'
'Music is sometimes a good way to kick the front door open,' says Ken Casey, the co-lead singer and bassist for the Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys. On Friday, the 81st anniversary of D-Day, Casey and his band took to the stage on the National Mall, the headline act as several politicians and activists rallied thousands of veterans in a march on Washington D.C. Ostensibly, the rally — organized by an array of veterans groups and backed by labor unions, such as the AFL-CIO — was a non-partisan protest against proposed cuts to veterans benefits and to the federal workforce, including at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In reality, it was an expression of rage against President Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda. 'I think there's a lot of people in America that think this is a fight between the far right and the far left. And it's not,' Casey tells Rolling Stone. It is impossible to make substantial cuts to the government without disproportionately impacting veterans, who make up nearly 25 percent of the federal workforce, but only five percent of employed Americans as a whole. The VA alone is facing losses of nearly 83,000 jobs, as proposed by the department's secretary, Doug Collins — about 18 percent of its total workforce. 'When we join the military, we take an oath to this country. And they, in turn, promise certain benefits if we serve,' says Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE, which represents about 750,000 government workers across the country. 'If you start attacking those workers that provide the services to the veteran then you are attacking, indirectly, the veteran.' Kelley says his members are keenly watching as lawsuits contesting job cuts make their way through the courts: 'They're saying that they want us to continue to stay in this fight. They are very relieved that the courts are seeing that these decisions are not rational, and that they are not in accordance with our Constitution.' 'We are winning some of these battles, but that's not where we want to be. We want to be winning the war,' he says. As the rally warmed up, Rolling Stone caught up with Casey. 'The facts are that the Trump presidency and all those involved are disrespecting the vets. And that's my opinion. And we're going to sing about it,' Casey tells Rolling Stone. His gentle voice purrs with an unmistakable Boston accent as he sits on a shady bench in the sweltering heat. 'We all know what's caused us to be here.' 'People are slowly waking up to it. I do think that the Trump plan of just throwing so much shit at the wall does work. It makes people just want to put their head in the sand,' he says. A young woman nearby, who this reporter later learns also hails from Boston but encountered the protest by accident, curiously eyes the 56-year-old punk rocker — with his old-school sailor tats, dapper black outfit, and neatly trimmed crewcut — and his interlocutor. She strains to listen in without being rude — it's not every day a founding member of one of your hometown's iconic bands plops down beside you to talk politics with a reporter, after all. 'I think that that's part of what keeps the moderates away, and part of it is that 'It's not affecting me personally right now,' and that's why that famous old statement from, I forget who said it: 'First they came for the trade unionists, and then they came for me,'' Casey says, summarizing a confessional-turned-poem by Martin Niemöller, a Lutheran pastor imprisoned by the Nazis, of which there are many versions. It's not the first time on this day that Rolling Stone hears a direct reference to the Nazis, or the rise of totalitarian political ideologies in the 1920s and 30s — fascism on the right, and communism on the left. The organizers of the rally, a recently established non-profit called the Unite for Veterans Coalition, likens their movement to the 'Bonus Army' of 1932 — a group of World War I veterans who took to the streets amid the Great Depression to get cash payments that had been promised to them — and talk admiringly about Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, a legendary U.S. Marine who was instrumental in crushing a clumsy fascist coup attempt against President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Here, now, in Washington D.C. on the anniversary of Operation Overlord, many veterans consciously sought to evoke that past — summoning the days when America had offered the lives of its citizenry to defeat a dictator. 'Dad Fought Fascism in Europe,' one man's sign says. 'We Will Fight it Here.' A woman holds another: 'My Grandpa Fought Nazis.' Two men carry flags with three downward pointing arrows, one saying 'American Iron Front' on it. This reporter asks Kris, the Navy veteran holding it, what the flag represents. He says that he is part of a local anti-fascist chapter, formed during the first Trump administration. He is aware that the Iron Front was a political paramilitary that fought the Nazis, among other forms of totalitarianism: The three downward pointing arrows are generally considered to represent opposition to Nazism, Communism, and Monarchism. One of the lessons of that era is that political extremism, fueled by proliferating violence and a masculinity crisis among young men, can create the conditions for the failure of a democracy. It forms part of the rationale for why the veterans who organized the rally say they are focused on cultivating a non-partisan, moderate movement. The fight to claim the political allegiance of veterans is, after all, a proxy battle in the war for the future of the American Republic — and both sides get a vote when it comes to war. Veterans largely voted in favor of Trump during the 2024 election, perhaps 60 percent to 40 percent. While Trump and his supporters may be ceding some of that ground by cutting veterans benefits, others are waiting to build movements around the political legitimacy supposedly conferred by veteran status. Far-right extremists have been omnipresent throughout modern American history, and veterans are a natural target for cultivation by ideologues. Right-wing paramilitary groups like the Three Percenters are explicitly aimed at veterans and law enforcement, while groups like the Proud Boys or Patriot Front adopt the language, dress, and symbolism of the War on Terror-era military. What is common to all of them is the implied threat of violence against dissent, and a willingness to take to the streets. Political violence is nothing new, and a number of the veterans who spoke to Rolling Stone fear that civil unrest will be used as a pretext for a government crackdown on liberties, perhaps even used in an attempt to justify martial law. Other vets were at the rally to protest job cuts inflicted by Trump and Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency. A thirtysomething former Marine mortarman who asked to be identified only as Andrew says that he lost his job at the Veterans Administration due to the DOGE cuts. He traveled from Michigan to show up at the protest. 'I wasn't really political before,' Andrew says. 'Like, everyone knows when you're the one liberal in an infantry battalion, but back then I didn't give politics much thought.' 'Now, I'm fucking furious. I'll show up for anything,' he says. Damian Bonvouloir graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978, and served in the Navy until 1986. He describes generations of family that had served in the military or in federal jobs, proudly counting them on his fingers as he shouts their relationship and role, while the Dropkick Murphys take to the stage. Bonvouloir carries a sign with a shamrock and the words: 'Who'll stand with us?' That is a reference to 'Who Will Stand with Us,' a new single which in the band's promotional material is described as 'an urgent call to action to stand up against division and inequality.' 'So here we are on D-Day today, and it's like everything that so many of our grandparents fought for — you're willing to just walk away from that, because you feel like the world's too 'woke?' What? How did you do the math there? Like, what do you care if someone else wants to be woke?' Casey says. 'Was it really worth it to surrender the democracy of the country, just so you could feel a little more like you had your guy win? It just doesn't add up.' Casey tries to put his money where his mouth is. Last month, he traveled to Ukraine as part of a mission to deliver desperately needed ambulances and medical aid. He sees the conflict there as part of the same fight that brought the veterans to the National Mall. 'People over there are defending democracy, and people over here are defending democracy,' he tells Rolling Stone. The Dropkick Murphys new album, For the People, comes out on July 4 on the band's own label. There's a lot of energy and anger, and much of it is clearly political. But Casey is hesitant to describe it as a protest album: 'Not every song is directly in relation to what's going on. But I think even when you're writing music that doesn't directly relate, the times shape that music.' 'There's a song on that album about the day my father died when I was a kid, that I never thought I'd write,' he says. 'And I'm just saying… maybe you get to the point where you don't take for granted that you'll be making music in the future, and maybe the times just make you feel an urgency for everything in your life.' At the rally, one of the biggest responses from the crowd was for a punk cover of the bluegrass song 'Dig a Hole in the Meadow,' an anti-fascist anthem from 1927, popularized by Woody Guthrie and others: 'Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow. Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground. Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow. We're gonna lay you fascists down.' Clearly a band whose eleventh album was titled This Machine Still Kills Fascists, is unapologetic about both its politics and its embrace of America's early anti-fascist traditions. 'I just feel when people say now, like, 'Shut up and sing!' — whatever. I feel OK. We've been going for 30 years with the same message,' Casey says. 'Listen, if you're a punk band and you can't write good angry music in these times… Then something ain't working, you know what I mean?' More from Rolling Stone 'We Are Taking Away Elon's Friends' Trump Finally Brings Back Illegally Deported Man - to Indict Him Trump Says He's 'Totally' Focused on Policy ... While Calling Reporters to Bash Musk Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
