The music industry must recognize that women are not merely participants in radio but the absolute cornerstone of what comes next. This reality is undeniably clear in the June issue of Radio Ink, which honors more than seventy women as the Most Influential Women in Radio. For publishers, rights holders, and songwriters, this shift matters immediately because the organizations lifting women up and the voices driving human connection are now leading programming, shaping ownership, and building digital strategy. The progress is real, yet the work that remains is equally critical for the future of the business.
Becky Brooks Refreshes Gracie Awards and Mentorship
The Alliance for Women in Media turns 75 in 2026, and its President, Becky Brooks, is equally invested in celebration and continuation. Since joining as Executive Director in 2015, Brooks has refreshed the Gracie Awards category by category and grown a mentorship program built on the premise that one conversation can change a career. She has pushed to put women in the rooms where decisions get made. Editor-in-Chief Cameron Coats explores leading an organization with this history and mission, noting that in Brooks’ words, egos are checked at the door.
Radio Hiring Process Consistently Fails Human Connection
Radio built its identity on human connection, yet the hiring process so consistently fails at it. Radio Ink surveyed both sides of the hiring desk anonymously, and the findings are as revealing as they are uncomfortable. Talent coach and veteran programmer John Shomby and Media Staffing Network President Lisa Fields tackle this crisis head-on. For any manager trying to find and keep great people right now, this industry report on Dead Air is essential reading.
Beasley Media Group Builds Legacy Across Dozen Markets
George Beasley founded his broadcasting company in 1961 with a conviction as simple and durable as his first AM signal: radio is an act of community. Sixty-five years later, his daughter Caroline runs a digital-first media company across more than a dozen markets, but the premise remains the same. Radio Ink talks with Beasley about legacy, inheritance, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.
Deborah Parenti Reflects on Real Progress for Women
Radio Ink President and Publisher Deborah Parenti reflects on what has and has not shifted for women in radio since she started in the business. The progress is real, but so is the work that remains. The women recognized in this issue reflect on the people who bet on them and the culture they are working to build.
What to watch next includes Roy H. Williams on radio measurement’s line of falling dominoes, Dara Kalvort’s AI prompt for organizing scattered emails, and Grace Agostino’s case for reclaiming LinkedIn. Loyd Ford will address radio’s generational handoff, while Townsquare’s Meg Dowdy discusses ham radio grandfathers and bologna sandwiches. The 2026 Hispanic Radio Conference will also provide images and insight from a Phoenix family reunion.
SOURCE TYPE: RADIO
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