NEW YORK October 25, 2023 – Amidst the shimmering skyline of New York City, the Javits Center played host to an evening that celebrated radio’s illustrious past and its promising future. The occasion was the NAB Marconi Radio Awards, held on October 25, 2023. An event that, for many in the industry, is much more than just an awards ceremony.
Named in homage to Guglielmo Marconi, the Nobel laureate and pioneer of wireless communication, the Marconi Awards have been a cornerstone of radio broadcasting recognition since their inception in 1989. These awards serve as a chronicle, tracing the evolution of a medium that has been a steadfast companion to its listeners, from the golden age of radio to today’s digital era.
This year’s Marconi Awards, seamlessly woven into the fabric of the NAB Show New York from October 24-26, was not merely a showcase of talent. It was a poignant reflection on radio’s unparalleled ability to inform, entertain, and inspire, transcending boundaries and generations. With Emmy-nominated broadcaster Rich Eisen as the esteemed host of the 2023 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, this illustrious event, sponsored by Xperi, was a highlight of the NAB Show New York.
Adding to the evening’s electric atmosphere, renowned record producer and radio host DJ Scratch, whose performance at the previous year’s event captivated a sold-out audience, returned as the house DJ, delivering an unforgettable auditory experience for attendees.
The 2023 Marconi Awards was a star-studded affair. ABC Audio’s Déjà Vu and Steven Portnoy joined the evening’s presenter lineup, bringing their unique flair and expertise to the event. They were joined by Dana Cortez, the charismatic host of “The Dana Cortez Show.” Sheri Lynch, the beloved voice behind “Bob and Sheri,” guiding attendees through an evening dedicated to celebrating the pinnacle of radio excellence.
Special Awards Spotlight: Broadcasting Legends James Brown and Diane Sutter Honored
The NAB was proud to bestow its highest honor, the 2023 Distinguished Service Award, upon Hall of Fame CBS sportscaster James Brown. Brown’s illustrious career and unparalleled contributions to sports broadcasting made him a fitting recipient of this prestigious accolade.
In a highlight of the evening, Diane Sutter, the visionary president and CEO of ShootingStar Broadcasting, was honored with the 2023 National Radio Award. This recognition was a testament to Sutter’s indomitable spirit and her significant contributions to the radio broadcasting industry.
The 2023 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, sponsored by Xperi, was an evening of grandeur, celebrating the best and brightest in radio broadcasting. As the industry converged on New York, the awards served as a beacon of excellence, shining a light on those who have elevated the world of radio, and a testament to radio’s indomitable spirit. Marconi finalists were selected by a committee of broadcasters, and the winners were voted on by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy. The votes were tabulated by an independent firm.
This year’s winners and finalists are as follows:
Legendary Radio Station of the Year
Finalists:
KCBS-AM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
WABC-AM, New York, N.Y.
WDAS-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
WLW-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio
WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
Winner:
KCBS-AM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
Legendary Station Manager
Finalists:
David R. DuBose, WTUG-FM, Townsquare Media, Birmingham, Ala.
Debbie Kenyon, Audacy, Detroit, Mich.
Gordy Rush, Guaranty Media, Baton Rouge, La.
Joey Cummings, KKHJ-FM, South Seas Broadcasting, Inc., American Samoa
Nick Martin, Big River Broadcasting Corporation, Florence/Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Winner:
Debbie Kenyon, Audacy, Detroit, Mich.
Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year
Finalists:
Enrique Santos, WZTU-FM Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Erica Campbell, Reach Media, Dallas, Texas
George Noory, Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Katie Neal, Audacy, Nashville, Tenn.
Rich Eisen, Westwood One, Los Angeles, Calif.
Winner:
Rich Eisen, Westwood One, Los Angeles, Calif.
Major Market Personality of the Year
Winner:
Finalists:
Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti, WFAN-FM, New York, N.Y.
George Dunham, Craig Miller and Gordon Keith, KTCK-AM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Jason Pullman, KPLX-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Lin Brehmer, WXRT-FM, Chicago, Ill.
Mark “Hawkeye” Louis and Michelle Rodriguez , KSCS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Winner:
Lin Brehmer, WXRT-FM, Chicago, Ill.
Large Market Personality of the Year
Finalists:
The Billy Madison Show, KISS-FM, San Antonio, Texas
Chris Carr, Kia Becht and Sam Sansevere, KEEY-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
Dave Ryan with Falen, Jenny and Drake, KDWB-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
Lincoln Ware, WDBZ-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio
Paul Castronovo, WBGG-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Winner:
Dave Ryan with Falen, Jenny and Drake, KDWB-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
Medium Market Personality of the Year
Finalists:
Ashley Adams, Roger Todd and Michele Silva, WJXB-FM, Knoxville, Tenn.
Brian Dawson, WQOK-FM, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Chaz and AJ, WPLR-FM, New Haven, Conn.
Kayla Blakeslee, WOWO-AM, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Kevin Miller, KIDO-AM, Boise, Idaho
Winner:
Ashley Adams, Roger Todd and Michele Silva, WJXB-FM, Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market Personality of the Year
Finalists:
Kat and J.J. Holiday, KCLD-FM, St. Cloud, Minn.
Kelly and Wood, KZPK-FM, St. Cloud, Minn.
Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart, KATI-FM, Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.
Keziah Atofau and John Raynar, KKHJ-FM, American Samoa
M. Fletcher Brown, WXFL-FM, Huntsville-Decatur-Florence, Ala.
Winner:
Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart, KATI-FM, Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.
Major Market Station of the Year
Finalists:
KSCS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
WINS-FM, New York, N.Y.
WLTW-FM, New York, N.Y.
WWPR-FM, New York, N.Y.
Winner:
WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
Large Market Station of the Year
Finalists:
KMOX-AM, St. Louis, Mo.
KQMT-FM, Denver, Colo.
KSTP-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
WHYI-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
WKRQ-FM, Cincinnati, Ohio
Winner:
KSTP-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
Medium Market Station of the Year
Finalists:
WHO-AM, Des Moines-Ames, Iowa
WNRP-AM, Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla.
WTIB-FM, Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.
WXKB-FM, Ft. Myers-Naples, Fla.
WYOY-FM, Jackson, Miss.
Winner:
WXKB-FM, Ft. Myers-Naples, Fla.
Small Market Station of the Year
Finalists:
KDXY-FM, Jonesboro, Ark.
KROX-AM, Crookston, Minn.
KZPK-FM, St. Cloud, Minn.
WIKY-FM, Evansville, Ind.
WYKY-FM, Somerset, Ky.
Winner:
WIKY-FM, Evansville, Ind.
AC Radio Station of the Year
Finalists:
KBIG-FM, Los Angeles, Calif.
KODA-FM, Houston, Texas
KOIT-FM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
WALK-FM, Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.
WEZN-FM, Metro Fairfield, Conn.
Winner:
KODA-FM, Houston, Texas
Best Radio Podcast of the Year
Finalists:
“American Nightmare Season 3: Unknown Subject,” WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.
“Behind the Song,” WDRV-FM, Chicago, Ill.
“Deadly Pill,” KFI-AM Los Angeles, Calif.
“DMV Download,” WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.
“The Letter,” KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, Utah
Winner:
“The Letter,” KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, Utah
CHR Station of the Year
Finalists:
KMVQ-FM, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
KNDE-FM, Bryan-College Station, Texas
WAPE-FM, Jacksonville, Fla.
WHTZ-FM, New York, N.Y.
WWPW-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
Winner:
WAPE-FM, Jacksonville, Fla.
Classic Hits Station of the Year
Finalists:
KJEB-FM, Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.
KONO-FM, San Antonio, Texas
KRTH-FM, Los Angeles, Calif.
WAXQ-FM, New York, N.Y.
WSRV-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
Winner:
KONO-FM, San Antonio, Texas
College Station of the Year
Finalists:
WGCS-FM, Goshen College, South Bend-Elkhart, Ind.
WMSC-FM, Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.
WPSC-FM, William Paterson University, Wayne, N.J.
WRRC-FM, Rider University, Lawrenceville, N.J.
WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.
Winner:
WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.
Country Station of the Year
Finalists:
KCLR-FM, Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.
KNCI-FM, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Calif.
KYGO-FM, Denver, Colo.
WKXC-FM, Augusta, Ga.
WXTU-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
Winner:
KYGO-FM, Denver, Colo.
News/Talk Station of the Year
Finalists:
KFI-AM, Los Angeles, Calif.
WABC-AM, New York, N.Y.
WCCO-AM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.
WWL-FM, New Orleans, La.
Winner:
WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.
Religious Station of the Year
Finalists:
KLTY-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
WLCC-AM, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla.
WMIT-FM, Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.-Asheville, N.C.
WNNL-FM, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
WPRS-FM, Washington, D.C.
Winner:
KLTY-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
Rock Station of the Year
Finalists:
KGLK-FM, Houston, Texas
WIYY-FM, Baltimore, Md.
WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
WPLR-FM, New Haven, Conn.
WXTB-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla.
Winner:
WMMR-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
Spanish Language Station of the Year
Finalists:
KLOL-FM, Houston, Texas
WLKQ-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
WLZL-FM, Washington, D.C.
WRUM-FM, Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla.
WYUU-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Fla.
Winner:
WLKQ-FM, Atlanta, Ga.
Sports Station of the Year
Finalists:
KFXN-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
KTCK-AM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
WBZ-FM, Boston, Mass.
WFAN-FM, New York, N.Y.
WJFK-FM, Washington, D.C.
Winner:
WBZ-FM, Boston, Mass.
Urban Station of the Year
Finalists:
WBTJ-FM, Richmond-Petersburg, Va.
WDAS-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.
WEDR-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
WHQT-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
WMIB-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Winner:
WHQT-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
As the evening comes to a close, a palpable feeling of gratitude and excitement for the future reverberates from the acceptance speeches spoken. It was evident that the significance of the Marconi Awards lies not just in the accolades but in the stories they tell. Stories of radio stations that have become community pillars, of groups of people so committed to their local communities, of on-air personalities who have resonated deeply with their audiences, and of a medium that has consistently adapted to the changing tides of time. For the recipients, the award is both an acknowledgment of their contributions and a reminder of their commitment to a legacy that spans over a century.
As we stand on the cusp of a new era in broadcasting, with technological advancements reshaping the media landscape, the Marconi Awards stand as a beacon, illuminating the path forward. They serve as a reminder of radio’s enduring relevance and its unwavering commitment to its listeners.
In the grand tapestry of media, each Marconi Award represents not just a thread; but a vibrant hue, adding depth and texture to the story of radio. A story that, much like the city that hosted this year’s awards, is ever-evolving, dynamic, and timeless.
About NAB Show New York
NAB Show New York is the most efficient and diverse event experience on the East Coast for the broadcast, media and entertainment industry, held October 24-26 (Exhibits October 25-26) at the Javits Center. Produced by the National Association of Broadcasters and again co-located with the AES New York 2023 Convention, NAB Show New York is the premier event for content economy professionals to reconnect, reevaluate and rediscover ways to get more creative with new-to-market tech and existing tools through exhibits, conferences and networking events. Learn more at www.nabshowny.com.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
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