Network & Connect and get your start in Podcasting, On Air, Streaming, News/Talk, Sports, Social Media, Sales, Marketing, Promotions and more!

KBA Radio Talent Institute June 3-8, 2024 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY.

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APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! Take a huge step toward starting your career in On Air, Podcasting, Streaming, Audio Production, News/Talk, Sports, Social Media, Sales, Marketing, Promotions and more!

The Kentucky Broadcast Association Radio Talent Institute™ at Western Kentucky university in Bowling Green Kentucky creates opportunities for new and emerging careers in media.  It is truly an incubator of well-rounded, well-educated college students, or recent graduates with a passion for media and a determination to get into the business.

The National Radio Talent System™ is made up of multiple talent Institutes at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Each institute brings in industry professionals from around the country as Guest Speakers who bring their real-world knowledge to this intensive 6-day summer program.

The KBA Radio Talent Institute™ at WKU is the campus-to-career connection most students need to begin their broadcast career, each not only learning from the dozens of pros but are able to network with them individually. This proves invaluable, as most will otherwise never have such an opportunity to meet and speak with these professionals. Likewise, these pros already have an introduction to these students who are available for open positions.

Upon completion of the institute, students will further their networking opportunities with access the National Radio Talent System's Career Center. This is where those in the industry are able to discover and hire NRTS graduates, who very likely, will be tomorrow's industry leaders.

Here are some of the Institute highlights (See Curriculum for more)
  • Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro
  • Radio' s Digital Content & Social Media
  • Programming Sports Talk Radio
  • How to Get In and Win
  • Marketing and Promotions - Doing It Right
  • Basics of Great Voice Work and Production
  • Goal Setting & Time Management
  • Doing It Live & Voice Tracking
  • How to Get a Good Job
  • How to Do A Great Talk Radio Show
  • Basics of Doing a Great Music Radio Show
  • Music Scheduling: How & Why
  • Sales & Marketing

Sample Daily Curriculum


1:30pm Opening Comments Phyllis Kloda
Dean
College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University

Dr. Janice Pope
Chair and Professor
Department of Communication
Appalachian State University

Dan Vallie
Director, Kellar Radio Talent Institute
Appalachian State University
President, National Radio Talent System
Founder, Vallie-Richards-Donovan
3:30-4:45pm The Digital Program Director Rob Whiteside
Senior Regional Digital Director
iHeartMedia Raleigh
5:00-6:00pm Social Hour at Cafe Portofino with Industry Professionals
Evening Assignment RAB Training Module #1 - The Role of a Radio Marketing Consultant

8:45am Announcements and Agenda Preview Dan Vallie
9:00-10:15am

RAB Training Module:
#2 - Prospecting - Finding and Evaluating Prospects

Brian Grube
Director of Sales
Capitol Broadcasting, Raleigh, NC
10:30-11:45m RAB Training Modules
#3 - Getting First Call Appointments
#4 - How to Conduct a Great Client Needs Analysis
Richard Harlow
Sales Manager
Dick Broadcasting Company
Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC
Lunch
1:00-2:15pm RAB Training Modules:
#5 - Elements of a Good Written Proposal
#6 - The Difference between Features and Benefits
Jo Sanderlin
Account Manager
Dick Broadcasting Company
Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC
2:30=3:45pm RAB Training Modules:
#7 - Understanding Competitive Media
Jim Coleman
General Sales Manager
Radio One Raleigh
4:00-5:00pm Social Hour at Cafe Portofino with Industry Professionals
Evening Assignment RAB Training Modules
#8 - Why Radio
#9 - Scheduling for Success
#10 - The Role of Creative

6:30am Board Bus at App State for Charlotte
8:45am Arrive at Charlotte Motor Speedway  
10:00-10:30am The Fundamentals of Announcing
NASCAR
Doug Rice
President & Gen. Manager
Performance Racing Network

Gerry Horn
Senior Vice President Sales
Performance Racing Network

Kent Bernhardt
Production Director
Performance Racing Network

Alexis Erickson
Marketing & Comm. Manager
Performance Racing Network
10:30-11:15am Around the track at 100 MPH  
  Lunch
12:45pm Depart Speedway for Panther Stadium  
1:15-2:15pm Carolina Panthers Football & Sports
Broadcasting
Mick Mixon
Play-by-Play Announcer
NFL Carolina Panthers
2:15-2:45pm Tour Stadium & Broadcast Facilities
3:00pm Depart Charlotte / Return to Boone at the Speed Limit
Evening Assignment RAB Training Modules:
#11 - The Best Presentations
#14 - Making Money with RAB Resources
NOTE: Modules #12 and #13 will be done during tomorrow's session.

8:45am Announcements and Agenda Preview Dan Vallie
9:00-10:15am RAB Training Modules:
#12 - Addressing Objections and Closings
#13 - More Sales Through Buyer Style Identification
Pam Patton
Marketing Consultant
Beasley Broadcast Group
Fayetteville, NC
10:30-11:45am Radio Video
Alexis Zarycki
Digital Program Director
Beasley Media Charlotte

Mark Borja
Videographer
Beasley Media Charlotte
  Lunch
1:00-2:15pm Engineering: RF & IT Brad Humphries
Market Dir. of Engineering
Beasley Media Charlotte

Nick Pinto
VP, Information Technology
Beasley Media Charlotte
2:30-3:45pm Student to Superstar Bill Schoening, SVP/Market Manager
Jack Daniel, WSOC PD & WKQC On-Air Talent
Beth Nifong, General Sales Manager
Cameron Moore, WNKS Music Dir./On-Air Talent/WSOC Music Director
Leslie Baylor Promotions Director, WPEG/WBAV
John "JT" Tillman, Imaging & Production Director
Alexis Zarycki, Digital Program Director
John Reynolds, Operations Manager
4:00-5:00pm Social Hour at Cafe Portofino with Industry Professionals
Evening Assignment: RAB Training Modules:
#15 - The Fundamentals of Co-op Advertising
#16 - How to Find Alternative Revenue Sources

6:00=9:00am "The Ace & TJ Show" - Broadcast Live from the George G. Beasley Media Complex Ace & TJ
w/ Riggins & Sass
Channel 96.1
iHeartMedia, Charlotte, NC
Radio Button Network
9:00am Announcements and Agenda Preview Dan Vallie
9:15-10:15am Show Prep
The Ace & TJ Show
10:30-11:45am RAB Training Module:
Goal Setting and Time Management
Tim Huston
Political, Sports, Experiences
and Events
WBT AM/FM, WFNZ, WLNK
Entercom Charlotte
  Lunch
1:00-2:00pm Music Scheduling - How and Why John Reynolds
Operations Manager
Beasley Media, Charlotte, NC
2:30pm RAB Radio Marketing Professional Certification exam
4:00-5:00pm Social Hour at Cafe Portofino with Industry Professionals

8:45am Announcements and Agenda Preview Dan Vallie
9:00-10:15am Marketing & Promotions - Doing It Right Bradlee Mikeska
Promotions Director
102.9 The Lake &
Channel 96-1
IHeartMedia Charlotte
10:30-11:45am Podcasting
Sheri Lynch
Bob and Sheri Show
107.9 The Link
Entercom Charlotte
  Lunch
1:00-2:15pm How to Get a Good Job Don Anthony
Talentmasters
Jockline Daily
Morning Show Boot Camp
Talk Show Boot Camp Atlanta
2:30-3:30pm Air Check Sessions Master Class

Industry Pros Speaking at IBA Radio Talent Institute


Chris Eagan

Vice President Audience & Operations
Cox Media Group
Atlanta, GA


Chandra Kinsey

Regional Promotions Director
Audacy, Inc.
Atlanta | Chattanooga | Memphis


Callie Dauler

Podcaster/Radio-TV Producer
Founder/Partner
tentwentytwo Projects
Atlanta, GA

Big Tigger

Big Tigger Morning Show
WVEE-V103 Atlanta
Audacy, Inc.


Don Turnbull

PM Drive/Traffic Anchor
Traffic/News
WSB Atlanta
Cox Media Group

IBA Radio Talent Institute Students Say It Best!


Emily Wisniewski


Justin Harris


Carmen Corley

Destiny Hartwell

Frequently Asked Questions

The KBA Radio Talent Institute is an intense 6-day program held on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY in partnership with the Kentucky Broadcast Association and National Radio Talent System.

National Radio Talent System is the only program of its kind in the world. It’s a system of Radio Talent Institutes on college campuses across America. Its mission is to discover, coach and nurture the next generations of professionals in the industry.

National Radio Talent System brings over 30 radio professionals to the KBA Radio Talent Institute to teach interactive sessions. Over the ten days you will personally learn from them, meet, mingle, and network with them. It could take years to meet and build relationships with this many broadcasters otherwise. Broadcast professionals from almost every aspect of the radio industry lead sessions; on-air, sales, digital, sports, news, production, management, marketing, programming, social media, etc.

After completion of the KBA Radio Talent Institute, you are highlighted on the National Radio Talent System website to broadcasters regionally and nationally. 70% of students who attend a Radio Talent Institute get their first job in broadcasting after graduation.

YES. You don’t have to choose one or the other. To date, every radio station has allowed their interns to break away from the internship for ten days to participate in Radio Talent Institutes.

College students, recent graduates, grad students, interns and part-timers at radio or TV stations are welcomed and accepted from all universities in the state and region. A total of 25 students are accepted on a rolling acceptance, so the earlier you apply, the better your chances.

The National Radio Talent System provides a “Certificate of Completion” from the KBA Radio Talent Institute and a “Radio Marketing Professional” certification from RAB.

A $395 Registration fee is paid after you are notified of acceptance, and that cost includes a meal card for lunch to use during the 6 days. Housing, if needed, is available on campus for an extra fee.

Yes. You may cancel your registration and request a refund for the KBA Institute at Western Kentucky University by April 15th, 2024.

Our Underwriters


The Kentucky Broadcasters Association (KBA) provides, promotes and facilitates educational opportunities in the broadcast industry through scholarships and grants, preserves the history of broadcasting and facilitates research and career development opportunities in the broadcast industry.

Kentucky Broadcasters Association Members:

OFFICERS:

Tom McMakin, Chairman, Gateway Radio Works
Jeff Andrerson, Chairman Elect
Chris Winkle, President/CEO

DIRECTORS:

Jim Moore, Radio District 1
Vickie Newberry, Radio District 2
Ken Salvaggie, Radio District 3
Roth Stratton, Radio District 4
Michael Jordan, Radio District 5
Kelly Wallingford, Radio District 6
Ethan Moore, District 7
Jamey Johnson, District 8
Chris Aldridge, Televison Lexington
Glenn Haygood, Television Louisville
Julie Milam, TV Other Markets
David Brinkley, Public Radio
Shae Hopkins, Public TV
Charlie Baglan, Associate Director
Mike Tarter, Director At-Large
Dale Thornhill, Director At-Large
 



See what a future in broadcasting looks like when you join a Talent Institute

KBA Underwriters