Radio, admittedly, has its share of pressures right now, as you’ve seen across our headlines. But today is National Radio Day, giving us all a chance to take a deliberate pause and celebrate the industry that we all love.
It’s why we wake up at 3am to be on the air by 6am. It’s why we are on the constant hunt for local businesses who need a helping hand and a spotlight. It’s fundraisers, remotes, and ribbon cuttings. It’s times of urgency, tragedy, and healing. Few industries get to be this much fun and this essential at the same time.
So in honor of the occasion, Radio Ink put one question to a mix of executives, association leaders, and voices from across the industry: What makes radio worth celebrating? Their answers, in their own words, follow.
Curtis LeGeyt, NAB President and CEO
“Every day, radio informs, entertains, and brings people together, while providing a trusted lifeline when emergencies strike. On National Radio Day, we celebrate the broadcasters who make these connections possible and are proud to advocate for policies that ensure local radio can continue to innovate, compete, and serve listeners for generations to come.”
Chris Forgy, Saga Communications CEO
A Love Letter to Radio
Dear Radio,
I fell for you nearly 40 years ago. I fell for you the way people fall for things that never ask for their attention, and yet it completely earned it anyway.
You were the dashboard lights on late drives, the tinny speaker under my pillow past bedtime. The voice at 6am that made that waking up feel less lonely. You didn’t wait for me to choose you — you were just there, connecting with and entertaining me.
I love that you’re built on trust, nobody signs a contract for… you’re free.
A stranger who I feel like I know for a lifetime talks into a microphone from a room I’ll never see, and somehow I believe them enough to let their voice keep me company. That’s intimacy without eye contact. Connection without a screen. A whole relationship built on timing and tone, and the small miracle of a signal finding its way directly to me.
I love your stubbornness, too. Everyone’s been calling you obsolete, and you just keep showing up — reinventing yourself, getting real results for advertisers, raising hundreds of millions of dollars in local communities all over America. And never losing the thing that made you matter in the first place: live, local, right now! Talking to whoever is listening. Not an algorithm guessing what I want to hear.
Thank you for the career, the meaningful friendships, the reason “why” I get up
every day to fight the good fight — for you, our listeners, our advertisers, and our employees. And thank you for being the reason I care this much about something most people take for granted.
You’ve been the steadfast thing in my working life — and I’m not done building for you yet.
Still tuned in,
Chris Forgy
Susan Larkin, RCS Worldwide President and CEO
“What’s worth celebrating about radio is not just about the incredible ability to reach people. It’s about the connection and relationship. Great personalities become a part of our daily lives. They make us laugh, talk about things that matter, and build trust over time. Radio can rally around a community, an important cause, and bring people together in a special way. The way people consume radio will continue to evolve, and technology will continue to change and enable broadcasters. My hope is that we can accelerate those efforts, so personalities and content creators have the time and ability to focus on what they do best- connecting with their fans.”
Allen Power, Salem Media President of Broadcast Media
“Radio deserves celebration because of its three unique strengths: Reach, Resilience, and Relationship.”
“Reach: Nielsen tells us radio still reaches 93% of U.S. adults every month — nearly 242 million people — including 89% of adults 18–34. And in the car, AM/FM still commands more than 80% of ad-supported audio listening. Enough said.”
“Resilience: For decades, every new technology has been predicted to kill radio. Instead, radio has adapted — from the dashboard to the smartphone, from the tower to the stream — while continuing to inform, entertain, and connect millions of people every day.”
“Relationship: This is what I call the ‘magic’ of radio’s intimacy. This week, I heard the daughter of one of my long-gone radio heroes reminiscing about her dad. She said, ‘Everyone in town felt like they knew him; they felt like he was their friend.'”
“THAT describes the unique companionship great radio still creates. Our business challenges can’t be denied, but neither can the reality of the three R’s of great radio.”
John Ostlund, One Putt Broadcasting Owner
“Too many radio stations have forgotten their true power. We reach further and connect faster than any other medium, and we’re the most trusted voice in every community. Algorithms offer choices, but radio builds better communities.”
Becky Brooks, Alliance for Women in Media President
“Radio is worth celebrating because it connects us. It informs us, entertains us, brings our communities together, and gives people a voice. It has also created meaningful opportunities for women to build careers, lead, and connect with audiences. And while the way we consume radio continues to evolve, that human connection remains at the heart of the medium.”
“Radio has a remarkable ability to meet people wherever they are and make them feel like they’re part of something bigger.”
Bob Heymann, Media Services Group Managing Director
“Nationally, has there been, for more than 100 years, anything which combines government and private enterprise that has provided such outstanding public service to the US population?”
“Professionally, [in my best Ted Baxter voice], it all started at a 1,000-watt radio station in Highland Park, Illinois, and has ended up allowing me to become involved in broadcasting transactions whose value approaches two billion dollars.”
“Personally, I indirectly met my wife as a result of her working in radio!”
Lisa Fields, Media Staffing Network President
“What makes radio worth celebrating? The way it connects with people.”
“Trends have forecasted radio’s demise for years, but radio continues to do something
other industries don’t: connect with people. Radio has always been about people. The people behind the mic. The people behind the scenes. The people selling, creating, engineering, programming, and leading. And, of course, the people listening.”
“Radio shows up for its communities during emergencies, fundraisers, celebrations, tragedies, and everything in between. And it maintains that connection no matter how the industry evolves. Radio is far more than reach. It’s trust, influence, and relationships. And behind that connection are people who have discovered not just a job in radio, but a place to build a future.”
“Radio has always been an industry where people can build a career, not just find a job. It rewards curiosity, hustle, relationships, creativity, resilience, and the willingness to evolve; all gifts and talents brought to the table by people.”
“The industry may be changing and evolving. Job titles may change. New platforms may be developed. But opportunities are still there for people willing to grow, learn, and take the next step.”
Have your own answer to why radio deserves to be celebrated? We want to hear it. Reach out to Radio Ink Editor-in-Chief Cameron Coats at [email protected].
