First-Ever TAB Radio Talent Institute Underway

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, May 16, 2017

The First-Ever TAB Radio Talent Institute began this week at the University of Tennessee. Over 40 broadcast professionals will lead all the sessions over the next ten days for the 25 students accepted into the inaugural TAB Radio Talent Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Students who have completed the Institutes have gotten their first job in radio or a related field and are working for Hubbard Radio, iHeartMedia, CBS Radio, Entercom, Cumulus, Beasley Broadcast Group, Alpha Media, CNN and others.

Larry Patrick of Patrick Communications commented, "The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Radio Talent Institute is an invaluable investment for future radio talent who are entering the radio industry. Led by industry professionals and facilitated by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the University of Tennessee's College of Communications and Information, Tennessee joins several other states offering this specialized program for radio talent."

TAB President Whit Adamson stated, "The student preparation and focus for the Radio Talent Institute is like nothing else we could get involved with. This course gets them ready for graduation and the next step in their careers, which is a valuable asset to any station. They have been exposed to all facets of a station and capable of sitting down at any broadcast radio or television facility and prepared to add something."

Students come from not only UTK, but also other universities around the state and region, and they have to apply to be accepted into the Institute. There are no breakout sessions; all students are in every session, including on-air music radio, news and sports, as well as digital/social media, production, promotion, sales, engineering, programming, management and all things radio including being certified as Radio Marketing Professionals by RAB.

National Radio Talent System Founder and President Dan Vallie commented, "We are very excited to be partnering with the University of Tennessee and working with Sam Swan and the College of Communication and Information, and with Benny Smith, at their award winning college radio station, WUTK. And we couldn't be happier to partner with Whit Adamson, President and the TAB, who have been supportive of the National Radio Talent System almost from the very beginning."