Home Login RADIO ONLINE RSS Facebook
Advertisement

Benztown Expands Production Team


Darren Silva & Jake Urbanek
Darren Silva & Jake Urbanek

Benztown is expanding its production leadership team with the addition of Darren Silva as West Coast Director of Commercial Production for the company and client YamanAir. Also joining the company is Jake Urbanek as Production Manager, Long Form Programming. Both appointments are effective immediately.

Silva joins Benztown after 22 years as Network Production Manager for Radio Disney in Los Angeles. He specializes in commercial production, imaging, writing, and voiceover. Silva got his start in radio in 1984 as an overnight jock for his hometown station in San Luis Obispo, CA, then moved to Los Angeles in 1987 to be on-air at the legendary 105.5 KNAC under the name "Dangerous Darren", and headed to Dallas in 1995 to rock the airways on 97.1 The Eagle. Silva joined Radio Disney in 1998. He has also been with SiriusXM for the past 17 years as a DJ on Hair Nation, Ozzy's Boneyard, and Classic Rewind.

Urbanek imports from Apple Music in Los Angeles, where he was Assistant Producer of The Zane Lowe Show. Prior to that, he was Audio Engineer for over 8 years Mr. Smalls Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. He was also Sound Engineer for the Washington Symphony Orchestra in Washington, PA. Urbanek studied Commercial Music Technology at California University of Pennsylvania, where he hosted a weekly radio show on WCAL 91.9 FM.

"Darren and Jake are world class producers with remarkable resumes and amazing attitudes," said Dave "Chachi" Denes, President, Benztown. "We're ecstatic to have them both join the Benztown team!"

"I've been aware of the Benztown company and brand since they started," said Silva. "I've been in touch with them since my days with Radio Disney. The talent at Benztown is unmatched and I am honored to be part of this company and work with these amazing people, as well as with Yaman and the amazing creative team at YamanAir."

"I look forward to working and learning from the best, while bringing my experience in production to such an amazingly talented and driven team," added Urbankek.

Advertisement

Latest Radio Stories

Holiday Music Connects Radio With Consumers
Katz Radio Group
Katz Radio Group
Holiday music remains an important part of the season for consumers, with 69% listening to seasonal music on AM/FM radio, according to new research from Katz Radio Group. The findings, featured in Katz's latest "Sound Answers," are based on a custom survey conducted in December More

FCC Dismisses 36 LPFM Applications Over Localism
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC's Media Bureau has dismissed 36 applications for new Low Power FM stations connected to broadcaster and organizer Stephen Wade Rathke and the Affiliated Media Foundation Movement (AMFM), finding that the applicants failed to meet the Commission's LPFM localism requirements. The applications, More

Study Finds Host Reads Boost Brand Impact
Cumulus Media and Westwood One
Cumulus Media and Westwood One
A new global advertising study finds creator-led ads, including radio and podcast host reads, can produce greater brand impact, particularly when advertisers identify themselves early and use entertaining, emotion-driven creative. The findings come from "The Creator Effectiveness Playbook: How to Build More
Advertisement

Zack Bennett Named Host of Pure American Country
Zack Bennett
Zack Bennett
Pure American Networks has named veteran Nashville broadcaster and producer Zack Bennett permanent host of the nationally syndicated weekly program "Pure American Country" and its daily companion feature, "Pure American Country Radio Minute." Bennett had served as interim host since the death of longtime More

Dana Cortez Show Takes Mornings at Q97.1 Fresno
The Dana Cortez Show with Greg & Dre
The Dana Cortez Show with Greg & Dre
The Dana Cortez Show has added Lotus Communications' KSEQ-FM (Q97.1) in Fresno to its affiliate lineup, taking over morning drive following the retirement of longtime morning team Greg & Dre. Beginning Monday, September 21, Dana Cortez, DJ Automatic and Anthony A. will anchor mornings on Q97.1 through the More

Urban One Names Yonni Rude Dallas Operations Manager
Yonni Rude
Yonni Rude
Urban One Dallas has named Yonni Rude Operations Manager, overseeing programming for the company's three Dallas-Fort Worth radio brands: KBFB (97.9 The Beat), KRNB (Smooth 105.7) and KKDA (K104). Rude moves to Dallas after spending the past three years as Program Director for Urban One's Houston stations More

Return to Menu

Advertisement

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free.

Advertisement

Advertisement