Corinne Baldassano to Receive MIW’s Trailblazer Award
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc names Corinne Baldassano, the 2024 MIW Frances Preston Trailblazer. Baldassano most recently served as SVP of programming & marketing at Take On The Day, LLC/“The Dr. Laura Program.” The Trailblazer Award is named after music industry pioneer and longtime BMI president and CEO Frances Preston and is presented annually to a woman who,
through her leadership and accomplishments in the industry, champions and creates opportunities for other women in radio to further their careers. MIW board president Ruth Presslaff comments, “Corinne’s remarkable career firmly establishes her as a Trailblazer. In addition to all she’s accomplished, her selfless devotion to mentoring women and men, and absolute delight in helping them achieve their goals, is the essence of who she is. She is truly a mentor of mentors. We are thrilled to recognize her with our highest award.” Baldassano says, “I am honored to accept this year’s Trailblazer Award from MIW. As I built my career, it was natural for me to offer guidance to others who also wanted to take a similar path. And it’s turned out to be one of the most important and satisfying things I’ve ever done. I’m proud of those I have mentored, and I’m humbled to be recognized by an organization committed to fostering the growth of broadcasting’s next generation of women. I’m happy to see my work and theirs come full circle. Thank you!”
roles in management in both music and news at such stations as New York’s WHN (in news) and WPLJ (as music director). Among the highlights in her remarkable career, she served as the ABC group’s first female program director at KAUM-FM, Houston and as PD at the Boston Globe’s WSAI-FM, Cincinnati. At one point she was vice president of programming for the ABC Radio Networks. Other senior managerial stops include Watermark production studio (American Top 40 and American Country Countdown), United Stations, and as senior vice president of programming for Sony-Warner’s radio division, SW Networks. Baldassano was a co-founder and an initial board member of the Mentoring and Inspiring Women, Inc group, which sprang from the first list of women honored by Radio Ink in 1998 (on which she was included). She tells TALKERS, “In my years at Take On The Day, LLC, I built wonderful relationships with advertisers, affiliates, SiriusXM, multiple charities and Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s loyal listeners. I am truly grateful for the years spent with Dr. Laura and Geoff Rich, as the company grew and diversified into live theatrical shows nationwide, podcasts, online stores that benefited Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, and much more. We had a great time, and I have nothing but warm wishes for their continued success as we all move on to new chapters.” She adds, “As one of the co-founders and a former board member, I will continue to work closely with Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc, where I serve as a key mentor to amazing women rising to be the next generation of leaders in radio. It’s one of the most important things I’ve ever done, and I get inspired by these women each and every day.” Baldassano can be emailed at