The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the finalists for the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards on Tuesday, recognizing excellence in radio stations, personalities, podcasts and industry leadership across the United States.

The finalists were revealed during a livestream hosted by Toby Knapp and Chilli Amar of 97.1 WASH-FM in Washington, D.C.

Winners will be announced Oct. 20 during the annual NAB Marconi Radio Awards dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, the evening before NAB Show New York 2026 begins.

2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Finalists

Legendary Station of the Year

• KFI-AM, Los Angeles, CA
• WCBS-FM, New York, NY
• WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN
• WJR-AM, Detroit, MI
• WLW-AM, Cincinnati, OH

Legendary Radio Manager of the Year

• Joey Cummings, South Seas Broadcasting Inc., Pago Pago, AS
• Tery Garras, KXLY-FM, Spokane, WA
• Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian, MI
• Mitch Rosen, WSCR-AM, Chicago, IL
• David Yadgaroff, Audacy, Philadelphia, PA

Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year

• Anna & Raven, WEZN-FM/Cumulus, Metro Fairfield, CT
• El Free Guey Show, TelevisaUnivision, Houston, TX
• Ryan Fox, Westwood One, Dallas, TX
• Ryan Seacrest, Premiere Radio Networks Inc., Los Angeles, CA
• The Bob & Sheri Show, WKQC-FM/Beasley, Charlotte, NC

Major Market Personality of the Year

• The Andie Summers Show, WXTU-FM, Philadelphia, PA
• Ellen K, KOST-FM, Los Angeles, CA
• Patty Jackson, WDAS-FM, Philadelphia, PA
• Karson and Kennedy, WBMX-FM, Boston, MA
• Riggs, Katelyn & Erica, KKBQ-FM, Houston, TX

Large Market Personality of the Year

• Paul Castronovo, WBGG-FM, Miami, FL
• Rebecca Cressman, KSFI-FM, Salt Lake City, UT
• Karen Dalessandro, KSLX-FM, Phoenix, AZ
• Heather & Matty, WWLI-FM, Providence, RI
• Justin, Scott and Spiegel, WIYY-FM, Baltimore, MD

Medium Market Personality of the Year

• The Blake Show with Kelly and Todd, WMGX-FM, Portland, ME
• Buzz Jackson, KIIM-FM, Tucson, AZ
• Joe & Tina Mornings, WZSR-FM, Crystal Lake, IL
• Ron Olson and Karen Perrin, WRVR-FM, Memphis, TN
• Ben Davis & Kelly K, WDJX-FM, Louisville, KY

Small Market Personality of the Year

• The Cosmo & Kat Show, KTXY-FM, Columbia, MO
• Chris Lawrence, WCHS-AM, Charleston, WV
• Ian Rambo, KQRQ-FM, Rapid City, SD
• The Ryan Smetzer Show, WIKZ-FM, Hagerstown, MD
• Stafford and Frigo, KDXY-FM, Jonesboro, AR

Major Market Station of the Year

• WBEB-FM, Philadelphia, PA
• WBMX-FM, Boston, MA
• WCBS-FM, New York, NY
• WSCR-AM, Chicago, IL
• WTMX-FM, Chicago, IL

Large Market Station of the Year

• KTMY-FM, St. Paul, MN
• WALK-FM, Long Island, NY
• WHQG-FM, Milwaukee, WI
• WWRM-FM, Tampa, FL
• WYXB-FM, Indianapolis, IN

Medium Market Station of the Year

• WBTJ-FM, Richmond, VA
• WHBC-AM, Canton, OH
• WMFS-FM, Memphis, TN
• WPOR-FM, Portland, ME
• WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

Small Market Station of the Year

• KBHP-FM, Bemidji, MN
• KMMX-FM, Lubbock, TX
• KNDE-FM, College Station, TX
• WIOG-FM, Saginaw, MI
• WYOT-FM, Rochelle, IL

Adult Contemporary (AC) Station of the Year

• KBIG-FM, Los Angeles, CA
• KRWM-FM, Seattle, WA
• KSTP-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
• KUIC-FM, San Francisco, CA
• WKJY-FM, Long Island, NY

Best Radio Podcast of the Year

• Flying Through Fog: A Podcast for PANS/PANDAS Caregivers, WTRC-FM, South Bend, IN
• Purple Daily, KSTP-AM, St. Paul, MN
• Supporting Sobriety, WIBC-FM, Indianapolis, IN
• The Install with Greg Cosell, WGFX-FM, Nashville, TN
• Uinta Triangle, KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, UT

CHR Station of the Year

• KNDE-FM, College Station, TX
• KQMV-FM, Seattle, WA
• KRBE-FM, Houston, TX
• KTXY-FM, Columbia, MO
• WBLI-FM, Long Island, NY

Classic Hits Station of the Year

• KONO-FM, San Antonio, TX
• KOOL-FM, Phoenix, AZ
• WCBS-FM, New York, NY
• WGTZ-FM, Dayton, OH
• WSRV-FM, Atlanta, GA

College Station of the Year

• WHPC-FM, Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY
• WMSC-FM, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• WOLF Radio, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
• WRRC-FM, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
• WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ

Country Station of the Year

• KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
• KFGE-FM, Lincoln, NE
• KIKV-FM, Alexandria, MN
• KKBQ-FM, Houston, TX
• WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN

News/Talk Station of the Year

• KFI-AM, Los Angeles, CA
• KXL-FM, Portland, OR
• WHPT-FM, Tampa, FL
• WLW-AM, Cincinnati, OH
• WSB-AM, Atlanta, GA

Religious Station of the Year

• WFMV-AM, Columbia, SC
• WGTS-FM, Washington, DC
• WJOU-FM, Huntsville, AL
• WLVU-FM, Nashville, TN
• WMCA-AM, New York, NY

Rock Station of the Year

• WIIL-FM, Chicago, IL
• WIYY-FM, Baltimore, MD
• WNCX-FM, Cleveland, OH
• WPLR-FM, New Haven, CT
• WXTB-FM, Tampa, FL

Spanish Language Station of the Year

• KOVE-FM, Houston, TX
• WAMR-FM, Miami, FL
• WLZL-FM, Washington, DC
• WZTU-FM, Miami, FL

Sports Station of the Year

• KTCK-FM, Dallas, TX
• WEEI-FM, Boston, MA
• WGFX-FM, Nashville, TN
• WIP-FM, Philadelphia, PA
• WJOX-FM, Birmingham, AL

Urban Station of the Year

• WCFB-FM, Orlando, FL
• WDAS-FM, Philadelphia, PA
• WDZZ-FM, Flint, MI
• WEDR-FM, Miami, FL
• WHQT-FM, Miami, FL

Established in 1989, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards recognize excellence in radio broadcasting and honor outstanding stations, personalities, podcasts and industry leaders. Winners will be announced Oct. 20 during Radio's Biggest Night in New York City, ahead of NAB Show New York 2026.

Delilah on stage at Broadway in Bryant Park on Thursday, July 23 (Photo Credit: Steve Prue for 106.7 Lite FM)

Nationally syndicated radio personality Delilah returned as co-host of this summer's Broadway in Bryant Park series, joining iHeartMedia New York's 106.7 LITE FM for the annual event celebrating its 26th season.

The outdoor lunchtime series, held each Thursday through Aug. 13 in Bryant Park, features live performances from Broadway productions and is hosted by personalities from 106.7 LITE FM.

Delilah, who has participated in the event for nearly 20 years, hosted the July 23 program, which included performances from & Juliet, Hadestown, Just in Time, Maybe Happy Ending, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and The Lost Boys.

Following the performances, Delilah spent time meeting fans and signing autographs. According to organizers, some attendees waited up to two hours for the opportunity to meet the nationally syndicated host.

Known as one of radio's most recognizable personalities, Delilah's nightly program airs on more than 140 radio stations across the United States through Premiere Networks. She is a recipient of the Marconi Award and has been inducted into both the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame.

In addition to her syndicated radio show, Delilah hosts programming on iHeartRadio, produces the podcasts Love Someone with Delilah and Have a Little Faith with Delilah, and is the author of four books, including One Heart at a Time.

K-LOVE has announced two leadership moves aimed at strengthening its communications, marketing and audience engagement efforts, promoting Kati Hyer and naming Andrew Lambeth as its next Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

Hyer has been promoted to Director of Engagement Communications after four years with the ministry. She joined K-LOVE after relocating to Tennessee and has since worked with teams across digital media, live events, data, pastoral care, programming and human resources to improve how the ministry communicates with and serves its supporters.

In her new position, Hyer will focus on developing her team while refining communication strategies and campaigns designed to strengthen connections with listeners and donors. Her role also includes mentoring staff and helping shape storytelling initiatives that highlight K-LOVE's mission and outreach.

Separately, K-LOVE announced that Andrew Lambeth will join the organization as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer beginning Sept. 1. Lambeth most recently served as Co-General Manager and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Centricity Music, where he led marketing, digital strategy, radio promotion and product operations.

During his time at Centricity Music, Lambeth helped oversee campaigns for artists including Lauren Daigle, Katy Nichole and Jordan Feliz, contributing to multiple Billboard No. 1 hits, industry awards and certified gold and platinum releases. He also played a key role in expanding digital audience engagement and global streaming growth across the label's roster.

"I've spent my entire career inside Christian music because I believe these songs and artists do something special," Lambeth said. "K-LOVE is where many of these songs and stories meet the most people, and I'm honored to join K-LOVE's excellent team in working to inspire people to move closer to Jesus."

K-LOVE Chief Executive Officer Tom Stultz said Lambeth's industry experience, strategic leadership and relationships within Christian music make him well-positioned to help expand the ministry's reach and long-term impact.

Lambeth will serve on K-LOVE's Ministry Leadership Team, overseeing the organization's communications, creative and marketing departments. He lives in Columbia, Tennessee, with his wife and two children and holds degrees from the University of Alabama and the College of William & Mary.

The announcements reflect K-LOVE's continued investment in strengthening both its internal communications leadership and its broader marketing strategy as the ministry continues to expand its outreach.

SiriusXM announced that John Mayer will perform an exclusive concert for subscribers Aug. 26 at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York, marking the singer-songwriter's only live performance of the summer.

The intimate concert, presented by Uber, celebrates Mayer's exclusive SiriusXM channel, Life with John Mayer, where the seven-time Grammy Award winner serves as curator and on-air host.

Before taking the stage, Mayer will sit down with Andy Cohen for a special interview, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes conversation ahead of the performance.

Joined by his full band, Mayer is expected to perform songs spanning his more than two-decade career.

"Our annual summer concert in the Hamptons has become a great tradition, and I'm excited to be this year's performer," Mayer said in a statement. "I've had such a great time building Life with John Mayer and recording the show live for the channel is the perfect way to bring it all full circle."

Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM's president and chief content officer, said the performance reflects the company's commitment to creating unique live music experiences for subscribers.

"John is an incredible creative partner and his dedication to music is evident as both an artist and curator of his SiriusXM channel," Greenstein said. "Bringing him to the stage at Stephen Talkhouse ... is exactly the kind of special experience SiriusXM loves to create for our listeners."

Highlights

• John Mayer performs live Aug. 26 at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York.
• Andy Cohen will interview Mayer before the concert.
• The show marks Mayer's only scheduled live performance of the summer.
• Subscribers can enter to win tickets or a VIP trip to attend.
• The concert airs Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET on Life with John Mayer (Channel 4) and streams on the SiriusXM app.
• Andy Cohen's interview airs Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. ET on Radio Andy.

The Stephen Talkhouse performance continues SiriusXM's tradition of hosting exclusive concerts at the Hamptons venue. Previous performers have included Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, The Killers, Metallica and Mumford & Sons.

Mayer launched Life with John Mayer in November 2023. The year-round SiriusXM channel features music personally curated by Mayer, including selections from his own catalog, favorite artists, collaborations, exclusive recordings and commentary.

Subscribers can enter SiriusXM's sweepstakes for tickets through Aug. 18.

TelevisaUnivision has expanded its Dallas-Fort Worth radio portfolio with the launch of "Amor 107.1 FM," a new Spanish Adult Contemporary station serving listeners across North Texas.

The new station officially signed on Monday at noon CT, adding another format to the company's local audio lineup. As part of the change, "Latino Mix" will now broadcast exclusively on 107.9 FM, ending its previous dual-frequency simulcast.

The addition of Amor 107.1 gives Hispanic listeners in the Dallas-Fort Worth market another programming option while reinforcing TelevisaUnivision's investment in serving the region's diverse Spanish-speaking audience.

The company's Dallas-Fort Worth radio lineup now includes:

• KAMZ – Amor 107.1 FM: Spanish Adult Contemporary featuring popular Latin pop and ballad hits.
• KDXX – Latino Mix 107.9 FM: Spanish Contemporary Hit Radio featuring today's Latin pop and rhythmic hits.
• KLNO – Que Buena 94.1 FM: Regional Mexican music with popular personalities and hit songs.

TelevisaUnivision said listeners can begin tuning in to Amor 107.1 FM immediately throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Beasley Media Group's 97.5 The Fanatic is temporarily changing its identity to 97.5 LeBron... Home of King James! following the announcement that LeBron James has joined the Philadelphia 76ers.

The station, the flagship radio home of the 76ers, said the temporary rebrand is designed to celebrate what it called one of the biggest moments in franchise history.

The promotion includes updated on-air imaging, website branding, app graphics and social media content. Throughout the day, listeners will hear new station IDs while hosts provide extensive coverage of James' arrival in Philadelphia, including breaking news, fan reaction, exclusive interviews, press conference coverage and analysis of the team's outlook.

"As the flagship station of the Philadelphia 76ers, we knew we had to celebrate this moment in a way that matched its magnitude," said Paul Blake, vice president and market manager of Beasley Media Group Philadelphia. "This is one of those rare days that changes the course of a franchise and energizes an entire city. Becoming '97.5 LeBron... Home of King James!' is our way of celebrating alongside Sixers fans everywhere."

Program Director Scott Masteller said the station's programming will focus on the impact of the blockbuster acquisition.

"These are the moments sports radio is built for," Masteller said. "Philadelphia has been waiting for this day, and every conversation is about LeBron and the Sixers. From the first show this morning through the final segment tonight, we're bringing fans everything they need to know about one of the biggest stories in NBA history."

As the official flagship station of the 76ers, the station said it will continue delivering expanded coverage through breaking news, expert analysis, interviews and listener interaction as the team prepares for the upcoming NBA season.

The rebrand is a temporary promotional campaign. Beasley Media Group noted that 97.5 LeBron... Home of King James! is a temporary news promotion and does not imply any affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement by LeBron James.

Sinclair has named Gary Mertins Vice President and General Manager of WCHS-TV (ABC) and WVAH-TV (FOX) in Charleston, West Virginia, returning the veteran media executive to a state where he previously held leadership roles.

Mertins most recently served as General Sales Manager for Sinclair's WTWC (NBC), WTLF (The CW) and WTLH (FOX) in Tallahassee, Florida. He joined Sinclair in 2024 after spending more than 20 years in radio management, including a decade with Cumulus Media as vice president and market manager overseeing multiple Florida markets. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with West Virginia Radio Corporation.

"Gary is a proven leader who brings a strong track record of building successful teams, driving results, and serving local communities," said Rob Weisbord, Sinclair's chief operating officer and president of local media. "His previous leadership experience in West Virginia gives him a unique understanding of the market and the people we serve, making him exceptionally well positioned to lead WCHS and WVAH as they continue delivering outstanding local news and service to viewers and advertisers."

Mertins said the opportunity marks both a career milestone and a return to familiar territory.

"Returning to West Virginia to lead the Charleston team is both a professional honor and a personal homecoming," Mertins said. "The Mountain State has played an important role in my life and career, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve a community that means so much to me."

He added that he looks forward to working with the stations' employees to strengthen community connections and continue providing local news and programming.

Sinclair owns, operates or provides services to 177 television stations across 79 markets and also owns the Tennis Channel and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest.

iHeartMedia will report its second-quarter 2026 financial results on Monday, Aug. 10, with an investor conference call scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET following the earnings release.

The company said it will release results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, before discussing its financial performance and business outlook during the webcast and conference call.

A live audio webcast of the call will be available on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia’s website (https://investors.iheartmedia.com/) beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on August 10th. The conference call can also be accessed by dialing (888) 596-4144 (domestic) or +1 646 968-2525 (international) using PIN number 8885116 followed by # key. Please call at least five minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected prior to the call.

An audio replay will be available beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 10 in the Events & Presentations section of the investor relations website and by telephone for 30 days.

Investors also will be able to access the earnings release and related materials through the company's investor relations website.

iHeartMedia, traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker IHRT, said it reaches more than 250 million people each month across broadcast radio, digital streaming, podcasting and audio advertising technology. The company operates through three business segments: the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group, the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, and the Audio and Media Services Group.

Compass Media Networks has added another major affiliate for its nationally syndicated weekend program She's Country, with KKGO Go Country 105 in Los Angeles joining the show's growing lineup.

The three-hour program, hosted by Emily Harlan, will air Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. PT on Go Country 105. The station joins more than 30 charter affiliates carrying the show, including KBAY in San Jose, WWWF on Long Island, WCCQ/WXLC in the Chicago market and KUPL in Portland.

She's Country launched recently in national syndication through Compass Media Networks and focuses exclusively on female country artists. Each weekly episode features music from established stars and emerging performers, along with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories and personal conversations highlighting the women shaping today's country music landscape.

"She's Country fulfills Go Country's mission to create equal opportunities for women to gain exposure for their songs and obtain the respect they deserve," said Saul Levine, owner, president and general manager of Go Country 105.

For Harlan, the new affiliate carries personal significance.

"Being born and raised in Southern California, I grew up listening to Go Country 105," Harlan said. "To have She's Country on such a legendary station in my hometown is a dream come true! I am so thankful to Saul and the entire team at KKGO for believing in this show."

Compass Media Networks said the addition of Go Country 105 expands the show's reach in one of the nation's largest radio markets as it continues to build its affiliate base.

Stations interested in carrying She's Country can contact Doug Ingold at Compass Media Networks.

Nielsen has introduced Ad Intel AI, an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to help advertisers, agencies and media companies turn fragmented advertising data into real-time business intelligence.

The company said Ad Intel AI is the first product in a broader strategy to bring AI-powered decision-making across its media measurement and advertising products. Rather than simply generating reports, the platform is designed to provide recommendations by analyzing competitor activity, advertising spending, creative performance and emerging market opportunities.

"The AI race relies on the most accurate data and that's what Nielsen owns," said Akhil Parekh, Nielsen's chief product officer. "By combining AI with the industry's most accurate and comprehensive data, we turn media fragmentation into market certainty. AI is the mechanism by which we will become faster, more accurate, more personalized and more indispensable to the clients who rely on us for media intelligence to drive their business."

According to Nielsen, Ad Intel AI monitors advertising activity across more than 5.5 million brands and 4.6 million advertisers spanning 23 media types in more than 90 international markets. The platform covers channels including:

• Connected TV (CTV)
• Broadcast and cable television
• Streaming services
• Retail media
• Search advertising
• Radio and audio
• Social media
• Digital advertising
• Print media

The company said the AI platform transforms its existing Ad Intel service into a conversational interface capable of identifying competitive spending shifts, uncovering successful creative strategies and surfacing market trends in minutes rather than requiring manual analysis.

Nielsen also said the platform can integrate directly into customers' own AI environments through Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing businesses to incorporate Nielsen's advertising intelligence into internal workflows and AI agents.

AI Built on Verified Media Data

Unlike many generative AI products that rely solely on large language models, Nielsen said its platform is grounded in decades of verified audience measurement data, identity data and Gracenote content metadata.

The company said its AI architecture structures information from video, audio, images and text before validating responses against Nielsen's own business definitions and expert-reviewed benchmarks.

Nielsen cited recent Gracenote research that found ungrounded large language models generated incorrect information for nearly one in five movie and television titles tested, positioning its verified data approach as a key differentiator.

First Step in Larger AI Strategy

Nielsen described Ad Intel AI as the first in a series of AI-powered products planned over the next year. Future releases are expected to expand AI capabilities throughout the advertising workflow, from campaign planning to measurement and performance analysis.

The company also said it plans to work with clients to develop custom AI solutions tailored to individual business needs.