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Every year, Radio Ink recognizes its 30 and Under Superstars. Honoring young professionals shaping the future of radio through resilience, innovation, and leadership. The list reflects growth, mentorship, and embracing change as key drivers in an industry that continues to evolve.

In an era of distractions and danger, the October issue of Radio Ink cuts straight to what matters most: who controls the money, who gets it, and why. We're tracking the contrarians, deal-makers, and sales warriors who see opportunity where others see decline.

(Buddy H. Lee) Local media markets aren’t oversold; they’re under-segmented. While national advertisers chase scale, local operators, franchisees, and multi-location retailers are often overlooked. These decision-makers control real budgets, move quickly, and crave relevance.

(Randy Lane) I once worked with a PD who would ask after every idea in a planning meeting: “Do they care? Do they care? Do they care?” It drove the show nuts, but he was right. The most successful shows pass every idea through a content filter.

Country Radio Seminar has opened nominations for the 2026 CRB Artist Humanitarian Award ahead of next year's show in March. The annual honor recognizes a Country artist whose philanthropic efforts have significantly advanced the causes they support.

More than 2 million meals will reach Central California families thanks to a single broadcast day. Cumulus Media Fresno’s NewsTalk 580 and 105.9 (KMJ-AM/FM) raised a record-breaking $534,917 during its 12th annual Feeding Families Fund Drive on September 19.

As Saga Communications reimagines its business model through what it calls "blended advertising," CEO Chris Forgy revealed an ambitious future vision: one where 67% of Saga's total revenue comes from digital within the next five years.

As digital and traditional platforms merge, radio sales leaders must walk the line between short-term results and sustainable growth. This makes evaluating performance more than tracking numbers. For the best of the best, metrics matter, but context defines success.

Even with AM/FM radio seeing a major upswing in workday listening as it tries to recover its full pre-pandemic share, Edison Research's first set of data from the Q3 2025 Share of Ear Report shows podcasts carving out a clear peak of midday listening.

(James Bahm) This is a true account of a remote sales agent I’ll call "Matilda," whose story perfectly illustrates what happens when employers ignore the Americans with Disabilities Act - and why reasonable accommodations aren't "special treatment."