WKU News

The National Radio Talent System will end its summer with the third annual KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute at Western Kentucky University beginning Monday, July 20.

The fourth Institute of the summer has 35 professional broadcasters teaching at the Institute, with Erica Farber, President/CEO of RAB, joining a group of radio professionals from Forcht Broadcasting, iHeart Media, CapCity Communications and Commonwealth Broadcasting in teaching the RAB RMP certification course. All Institute students will take the exam to become certified by the RAB as Radio Marketing Professionals.

Over the ten days, college students, who had applied and were accepted into the Institute, will be taught on almost all aspects of radio, including on air, sports, news, production, promotions, digital and sales. There are no breakout sessions; all students are in every session. Students with a passion and desire for a career in broadcasting are accepted not only from WKU, but also from other schools in the state and region.

The KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute is sponsored by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association, Forever Communications, The Cromwell Group, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, Henson Media, Anderson and Associates and Forcht Broadcasting.

Dan Vallie, Founder and President of the National Radio Talent System, commented, “Thanks to Western Kentucky University, the Kentucky Broadcasters Association, and the radio groups for partnering with us to give these students the campus to career connection most need, and to be an incubator of young talent for our industry.”

On-air and programming sessions are led by Gary Moore, KLOS, Los Angeles; Barbara Bridges, PD, Mix 92.9, Nashville; Marty McFly, 95.5 NASH ICON, Nashville; and other radio professionals from Midwest Communications, Cumulus Media, Forever Communications and iHeart Media.
Ben and Kelly K from Alpha Media’s 99.7 DJX will do their show on campus, with the students as the live studio audience.

Opening comments Sunday were from Chris Winkle, President/CEO, WCYN Somerset and Chairman of the KBA. Bud Walters closes the Institute in ten days with “Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro”, with closing comments from Laura Cole, COO of the KBA and Whit Adamson, President of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters.

Former students who have completed the Institutes have gotten their first job in radio or a related field and are working for CBS, Commonwealth Broadcasting, iHeart Media, Forever Communications, Cumulus Media, Beasley Media, Entercom, Greater Media, RFD TV, CNN and others.

The National Radio Talent System™ is a system of Radio Talent Institutes™ on college campuses across America; the first program of its kind in the world. The KBA WKU Radio Talent Institute was preceded this summer by the GAB Radio Talent Institute at the University of Georgia in May, the Kellar Radio Talent Institute at Appalachian State University in North Carolina in June, and the Confer Radio Talent Institute at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in early July.

Individual broadcasters, groups or organizations who would like to join the National Radio Talent System™ in establishing and sponsoring a Radio Talent Institute™ on a campus in their state and region should contact DanVallie@NationalRadioTalentSystem.com or call 828-262-1502.