Urban Talk WURD, Philadelphia to Hold Founder’s Day Gala
Philadelphia urban talk WURD Radio is holding its annual Founder’s Day Gala on October 3, honoring the life and legacy of station founder Walter P. Lomax Jr., M.D. at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center. The station says this year’s gala marks the exciting launch of “Freedom Journeys: Celebrating the Lives of 250 Phenomenal Philadelphians.” Additionally, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States,
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.”
role is vital to bringing our brand to life through on-air, digital, and community engagement initiatives. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy working with people, and bring creative energy to our promotions and marketing efforts. 
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.”
Imagine a listener “talking” to an AI version of you – trained entirely on your old episodes. The bot knows your cadence, your phrases, even your voice. It sounds like you, but it isn’t you.
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.
would go their separate ways when his current contract ends later this year. The Yahoo story says, “A source affirmed that everything is a done deal in this regard, and all previous reports of him exiting the company were pure fallacy, per RadarOnline. The man of the hour himself also dropped a big hint on his social media, teasing an answer to all the questions hovering around his career very soon.” Stern’s own Instagram account posted the following: “Now we can reveal that all the questions will be answered. All the truths will be told by the one man truly on the inside: Howard Stern will speak. Tuesday, September 2.” 
Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” remains ranked #5 while Cumulus Podcast Network’s “Shawn Ryan Show” rises one place to #6. Other talk radio related shows of note include: Cumulus Podcast Network’s “VINCE” dipping three places to #13; iHeart Audience Network’s “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” rising two places to # 14; and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “Mark Levin Show” falling six places to #35. 
WPEN-FM 97.5 The Fanatic on August 8 after almost a year back behind the mic at the station. Missanelli joined sister rock WMMR’s Kathy Romano – a cast member of the “Steve and Preston Show” – was also let go. Beasley issued the following public statement: “We are very grateful for his contributions to the station and our listeners, and we wish him all the best.”
Artificial intelligence now makes it possible to replicate a human voice with striking accuracy. For broadcasters, podcasters, and content creators, the central question is: When does using or imitating a voice become a legal problem? The answer depends on the person being imitated, the purpose of the use, and the rights attached to that voice. Below is a six-bucket framework to help evaluate the risk.