Tavis Smiley To Broadcast From Next Month’s DNC – Offering Show Free to Urban Stations During Event
Airing in more than 40 markets from Los Angeles flagship KBLA “Talk 1580,” SmileyAudioMedia’s “Tavis Smiley” show will be offered free to urban-targeted stations for one week during next month’s Democratic National Convention (8/19-22). The SmileyAudioMedia owner/TALKERS 2023 “Freedom Of Speech” award winner will broadcast from the event’s radio row inside the site of the convention – Chicago’s United Center – and other relevant locations. Smiley tells TALKERS, “Black voters will be at the epicenter of whatever happens in Chicago, a fact made more relevant with the increasing likelihood that Kamala Harris will be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. If the Democratic Party hopes to achieve victory in November, it will be because Black voters saved the party and, ultimately, American democracy. To date, the 2024 election has been unpredictable and unprecedented. As the battle between the candidates enters its final stretch, the policies discussed and the decisions made will have a profound and lasting impact on Black America. It’s appropriate that ‘Tavis Smiley’ listeners will be at the center of the action as the conversation occurs.” SmileyAudioMedia syndication manager Rob Wilkins (who can be reached at rob@smileyaudiomedia.com) notes, “The 2024 election is a rapidly changing, fluid story. Tavis will serve as the audience’s eyes and ears in Chicago, keeping them on top of stories as they develop during the most important political party convention of the 21st century.” Two decades ago, Smiley’s book The Covenant with Black America addressed critical issues facing African Americans. Scheduled to be released five days after the DNC concludes (8/27) is Smiley’s updated #1 New York Times bestselling The Covenant with Black America: 20 Years Later. It will provide observations and commentary on cultural, societal, and political implications of this year’s DNC with some of Black America’s most relevant thought leaders. Among stations already agreeing to SmileyAudioMedia’s free one-week offer include: Atlanta urban AC WIGO “AM 1570”; Austin noncommercial urban contemporary KAZI “88.7 FM”; Buffalo urban AC WUFO-AM “Mix 1080” & WUFO-FM “Power 96.5”; Albany, Georgia’s Albany State University-owned WASU-LP “Real Music, Real Talk, Real Radio”; Wilberforce, Ohio’s Central State University-owned smooth jazz/urban gospel WCSU FM “Jazzy 88.9”; and Marshall, Texas’ Wiley College-owned urban contemporary KBWC “FM 91.1.” Tavis Smiley appears at #33 on the 2024 TALKERS “Heavy Hundred.”
show on FOX Sports 1 and the weekend program “Hello, My Name is Craig,” on WFAN, New York. Carton began his radio career on WGR-AM, Buffalo and rose to fame nationally as co-host of the WFAN, New York morning show alongside Boomer Esiason. Also being inducted this year is John Murphy, radio host, TV sports director and longtime radio voice of Buffalo Bills play-by-play. The induction ceremony will take place at the NYSBA’s gala luncheon in the Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
trade publication’s most popular features. He also recently appeared as the moderator of the “Generating News/Talk Revenue” panel at the recent TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond conference – a role he also played at the 2023 installment of the TALKERS conference. Lapa was highly active as an advisor to Newsmax Media for the past decade in the development of its multimedia operations including Newsmax Radio. Starting on-air, then working through the ranks of programming, production and sales, Steve Lapa, at age 25, became the youngest general manager in the US of a group owned top 30 DMA radio station WGRQ, Buffalo. Continually assigned to lead turnaround properties, Steve focused on delivering revenue and audience growth through the insightful opportunities blending on-air talent creating unique programming with high-profile event partnerships. He quickly became a category innovator. Steve’s first-mover concept, developed in the early era of superstar stadium concerts, proved highly profitable across program channels, talents, and venues at all levels. Steve held upper-level management positions at 28 radio and TV stations for public and privately held companies from South Florida to San Francisco. One of his most recent positions was as VP/GM of talker WFTL, Fort Lauderdale/Miami. After successfully managing and innovating for others, Steve and financial partner Myer Feldman co-founded Ardman Broadcasting of Florida and Cape Cod, to acquire underdeveloped broadcast assets, which were developed then divested at 200-400% returns. Steve went on as founder of his own Lapcom Communications generating the same results at his wholly owned stations. Lapcom Communications was the parent company for Lapa’s current business activities until his death today. More information including arrangements will be posted when available.
This column should really be called, “How I got transferred from Buffalo to Tampa.” The storyline will help explain the title and offer you a proven technique that should help you sell and earn more.
director at WIVB-TV, Buffalo and served as a weekend anchor at WBEN-AM in 2002 and at sister WGR-AM in 1999. Audacy Buffalo SVP and market manager Tim Wenger states, “Lisa’s extraordinary background in leading award-winning content generation in local television news will be invaluable for WBEN as it continues to evolve as the radio station that’s always there when the community needs it the most. I look forward to Lisa taking an already stellar brand to new heights.”
company operates news/talk WHLD-AM, Buffalo; sports talk WRIE-AM, Erie; and sports talk WSKO-AM, Syracuse as well as 11 music-formatted stations. Cumulus Media president of operations Bob Walker states, “We are pleased to expand Beth’s responsibilities over these three key markets for Cumulus. Her deep experience and effectiveness as a leader make her a natural choice for this enhanced role.” 
conversations and connections on topics relevant to our local communities throughout the year.” The next “Audacy Conversations” explores the state of downtown. It says, “Over three years later, America’s cities are still grappling with challenges and unexpected fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. WBBM Newsradio (WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM) in Chicago will host a live town hall on November 9 to explore those impacts in-depth and what’s at stake for businesses and community members as cities look to revitalize their downtowns.” The program will air on WBBM Newsradio, KRLD NewsRadio 1080 (KRLD-AM) in Dallas, WWJ News Radio 950 (WWJ-AM) in Detroit, KNX News 97.1 FM (KNX-FM) in Los Angeles, WCBS 880 (WCBS-AM) in New York, KYW Newsradio (103.9 FM/1060 AM) in Philadelphia and KCBS All News (106.9 FM/740 AM) in San Francisco on November 16 at 7:00 pm local time. It will also air on WBEN-AM, Buffalo; WCCO-AM, Minneapolis; WWL-AM/FM, New Orleans; KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh; and KMOX-AM, St. Louis. Throughout the week of November 13 to 17, the all-news stations will air special content catered to the town hall topics, including interviews, news stories and feature reporting.
manager Tim Wenger and WBEN-AM morning drive personality Susan Rose are a married couple – for 30 years now – who met at WBEN in 1986 when Tim was 
hired as a programming assistant and Susan trained him for the position. Tim has risen through the programming ranks to become SVP and market manager and Susan co-hosts the news/talk station’s “A New Morning” show with Brian Mazurowski. Interestingly, Tim has been Susan’s boss since 1993, including during the period when they co-hosted the “Buffalo’s Evening News” program together in the mid- to late-1990s. They are featured in a profile story in the Buffalo News. 
Ohio but returned to Western New York and has spent the last 18 years with Jeremy White as his co-host in mornings on Audacy’s WGR. Simon says, “I’ve been very lucky to have worked alongside some wonderful people at WJJL, WBEN, Empire Sports Network and finally at WGR. I wish I could list everyone by name, but that isn’t possible. Let me just say, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my many co-workers over the years. I’ve made some great, lifelong friendships, while getting a chance to do something I truly loved. I would like to mention my co-host for the last 18 years at WGR, Jeremy White. That is the longest I worked with anyone by far! Jeremy is super talented, extremely creative, and has a great feel for what topics will be of most interest to our listening audience.”
