We launched our 30 and Under Superstars list, now in its third year, not only to highlight the next generation of radio stars, but to prove that young and talented men and women are joining the radio industry. They are catching the radio bug at an early age, and they are loving every minute of the career path they are now on. Like most people on a career path at an early age, some on our 2021 list chose radio, while others say radio chose them. No matter how they got here, they are here to stay because of how radio fulfills their career aspirations, and because of how they see radio’s role in their local communities.
It really isn’t difficult to find men and women 30 years of age and under working in radio. They come to us this year from all over the country, from many different companies and doing every job at a radio station. We gathered a lot of great content from each and every one of them, and you’ll be reading even more of that content in future issues of Radio Ink magazine. In this issue, we asked them why they chose radio as a career, how radio can continue to recruit young people, and for any ideas they have to help the industry improve. Here is our 2021 class of Radio’s 30 and Under Superstars.
ANDREW BERGER Age: 30 Imaging Director KPWR (Power 106)/Los Angeles Meruelo Media 5 years with Power 106 “I caught the radio bug at 14,” says Andrew Berger. “I was infatuated by what the mixers were doing. I would be glued to the radio all the time, and I loved how Eric Edwards sounded on Hot 97 and knew I wanted to make DJ drops. I was obsessed with knowing what really happened behind the scenes in radio. I found my way around the building to see everything. It was love at first sight. Funny story, when I first got up to Hot 97, I touched the walls to make sure I was really there!” Battling the “radio is dead” argument, Berger tells Radio Ink his generation still enjoys the radio — it’s the generation after his who think radio is for older people. “It’s for sure a tough sell!” he says. “I explain to people radio is all about companionship, and that seems to change their thinking.” Berger would like to see the radio industry work on instilling confidence in employees. “Make them feel valued, and for creatives, make them feel safe to think out of the box.”
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