WABC Gala to Raise Funds for Charities
WABC, New York and Red Apple Media owners John and Margo Catsimatidis are hosting a star-studded gala in celebration of America’s 250th birthday on Friday, September 5 at Cipriani’s 42nd St. in New York City. The Catsimatidis say the gala will serve not only as a celebration of freedom but also as a reminder of the resilience, ideals, and shared spirit that continue to define the United States. Proceeds from the gala
event will benefit The WABC Radio Foundation, The Tunnel To Towers Foundation, The Police Athletic League (PAL), and Shriners Children’s. The evening will feature performances of patriotic songs including WABC Saturday evening personality and singer Tony Orlando performing “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”; Lee Greenwood performing “God Bless the USA” and America’s tenor Christopher Maccio will sing the National Anthem. Additionally, WABC personality Joe Piscopo will perform Frank Sinatra classics and station host Vinnie Medugno will sing oldies. The gala event will be hosted by 77WABC legendary air personality Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow. Distinguished guests will include United States and New York area politicians, business leaders, and community heroes. See more and purchase tickets here.
Score” in March as the result of a social media rant against a critic was his fault. He says, “I own my mistakes. This was the culmination of a slow, rolling mental health crisis.” Bernstein recently began working with Hubbard’s 312 Sports platform on the daily podcast “Dan Bernstein: Unfiltered” with co-host Matt Abbatacola. He says, “I learned a lot in therapy, and I’m continuing to learn a lot about the dopamine outrage cycle and how real that is and how my brain chemistry works.” He adds, “I think I’ll be better served by the pace and tone of podcasting.” 
“Around The NFL” podcast. As “Heed the Call NFL Podcast” moves to Audacy on September 1, four new episodes will continue to be released weekly during the NFL season on YouTube and everywhere podcasts are available. Audacy head of podcasts Leah Reis-Dennis says, “Dan and Marc are pioneers in sports podcasting and two of the most respected voices in the NFL media landscape. Their compelling mix of expertise, authenticity, and humor has built a passionate following and we’re proud to bring ‘Heed the Call NFL Podcast’ into the Audacy family as we continue to expand our industry-leading sports audio lineup.”
WURD, in partnership with Renee Chenault Fattah and Love Now Media, will spotlight 250 iconic Philadelphians in the 250 days leading up to July 4, 2026. The series begins at Founder’s Day with a tribute to Walter P. Lomax Jr., M.D., WURD president and CEO Sara M. Lomax says, “Freedom Journeys is a celebration of the people who have shaped Philadelphia’s culture, history, and future. This storytelling project ensures that significant Philadelphia figures are not overlooked as we mark the semi quincentennial of this nation’s founding. We’re thrilled to launch Freedom Journeys at Founder’s Day and to honor my father’s extraordinary legacy with a night of joy, music, and community.”
“justice for the injured… Bradshaw & Bryant.” Key takeaways from the blog include: 1) Through its longterm use of AM/FM radio advertising, Bradshaw & Bryant dominates unaided brand awareness; Across all stages of the consumer journey, Bradshaw & Bryant leads the market; 2) Bradshaw & Bryant offers Madison Avenue a master class on creating future demand and how building a brand is the main driver of longterm growth and profit; 3) Every advertiser has two jobs: Creating future demand and converting existing demand; Bradshaw & Bryant excels at creating future demand; and 4) AM/FM radio advertising works: Among AM/FM radio listeners, Bradshaw & Bryant’s awareness is +19% greater than in the overall market. 
their careers who have demonstrated exceptional promise, drive, and passion for broadcasting. Honorees are selected based on their strong work ethic, eagerness to learn, and willingness to go above and beyond their daily responsibilities to create outstanding content that informs, entertains, and inspires their audiences. GAB President Randy Gravley states, “By recognizing these incredible young professionals, we’re not just celebrating their accomplishments today, we’re investing in the future of broadcasting. The Rising Stars program highlights the innovation, creativity, and passion that will drive our industry forward.”
technical operations. This one-of-a-kind, year-long mentorship pairs a rising professional with a seasoned industry leader to provide one-on-one coaching and deep exposure to the technical side of the broadcast industry.” The selected mentee will gain hands-on insight into critical areas including FCC compliance, RF systems, EAS, IP-based broadcast systems, automation, and network operations. The program also explores key aspects of IT, remote broadcasting, digital audio, streaming, and systems integration, equipping participants with both the knowledge and connections to lead confidently in the evolving audio landscape. In addition, the chosen mentee will attend the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. MIW Board President Sheila Kirby says, “The LAUNCH program is a cornerstone of MIW’s mission to open doors for women in every corner of broadcasting. By focusing on engineering and technical operations, we’re not only providing critical skills and mentorship, but also ensuring that women have a strong voice in shaping the future of our industry. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Master, Premiere Networks, and of course the NAB Leadership Foundation for their support in helping us prepare the next generation of broadcast leaders.”
women’s basketball games this season and a total of 28 episodes of the “Bruin Insider Show” on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. KABC program director Luis Segura comments, “With KABC’s powerhouse signal and UCLA’s legacy teams, Southern Californians will get some of the best in sports programming starting Fall 2025! We are tremendously excited to partner with UCLA as the new official broadcast home of Bruins football and men’s basketball and look forward to turning up the volume on Bruins coverage for our passionate 790 KABC listeners and Southern California sports fans.”
with a spotlight on alumni pride and community connection.” The station is featuring the syndicated “Miller and Moulton Morning Show” starring Mark Miller and David Moulton. Beasley Tampa VP and market manager Ron deCastro says, “Florida Alumni Radio is more than a station – it’s a destination for Florida sports fans and alumni to come together and celebrate the teams and traditions they love. We’re proud to provide a platform that not only delivers great sports content, but also connects alumni, students, and fans across the Tampa Bay community in a meaningful way.” The station will also serve as the exclusive home for USF Athletics content.
ESPN Radio’s “Unsportsmanlike” starring Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon from 5:00 am to 6:00 am; “Kap and J. Hood” from 6:00 am to 9:00 am; “Carmen and Jurko” from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon; Rich Eisen from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm; “Bleck and Abdalla” from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm; and “Waddle and Silvy” from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. ESPN Chicago director of content Danny Zederman states, “Our lineup has never been stronger. Adding a powerhouse like Rich Eisen to our midday slot not only gives our fans one of the most respected voices in sports, but we’ve also expanded our local content with an uninterrupted hour of ‘Bleck and Abdalla.’ This combination of national and local perspectives makes us the go-to station for sports fans in Chicago.”
his remarkable contributions to the radio industry over the past four decades. Mike’s deep expertise, creative vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have shaped countless careers, inspired new generations of broadcasters and driven innovation in every corner of the audio industry. His ability to nurture talent and create programming that resonates with audiences makes him a most deserving recipient of this year’s National Radio Award.” McVay is president of McVay Media and recently served as EVP of content and programming for Cumulus Media and the Westwood One radio network. NAB says the celebrated media strategist, programmer, talent coach and industry leader will receive this prestigious accolade during the NAB Marconi Radio Awards at the 2025 NAB Show New York.
ministry – has died at age 89. Dobson launched a radio program titled, “Focus on the Family” and, after leaving Focus on the Family to his successor Jim Daly in 2010, Dobson founded Family Talk and a new radio program. He later founded the James Dobson Family Institute and the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal defense firm.
deal, KPOJ-AM “Rip City Radio 620 AM” continues as the flagship station. Travis Demers enters his seventh full season as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer with Michael Holton as color commentator and Rip City Radio’s Chad Doing hosting both pre- and post-game shows.
says, “Tommy’s deep roots in the Los Angeles media landscape, combined with his passion for building brands and connecting with the community, make him the ideal leader for ‘ESPN LA.’ He has excelled at leading teammates across sales, marketing, and support, serving as a strong conduit between those areas and the content team. His proven track record of innovation and results will continue to elevate the brand’s reach and impact with fans and partners.” Lam comments, “I am honored to take on this role and continue building on ESPN LA’s momentum. Los Angeles is one of the most dynamic sports markets in the world, and I’m excited to work with our talent team to deliver outstanding experiences for our fans, partners and teammates.”