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

Cumulus Promotes Park to Regional VP in Indiana
Darlene Park
Darlene Park
Cumulus Media has promoted Darlene Park to Regional Vice President for Central Indiana, expanding her leadership role to include oversight of the company's Country stations in Kokomo and Muncie. In her new position, Park will continue to oversee Cumulus Indianapolis and its six stations while adding More

Connoisseur Sells South Dakota Stations to Local Group
Connoisseur Media
Connoisseur Media
Connoisseur Media has reached an agreement to sell its radio outlets in Brookings, SD, to locally owned Brookings Radio LLC. The buyer is led by longtime market manager Cami Powers, along with her husband Derrick Powers and Chad Hogie. The deal includes KBRK-AM and KBRK-FM in Brookings, KDBX-FM in Clear More

Superadio to Syndicate Heidi & Frank Show
Heidi & Frank Show
Heidi & Frank Show
Superadio Networks has entered into a syndication partnership with Toad Hop Network to expand The Heidi & Frank Show to radio stations nationwide. Under the agreement, Superadio will handle national syndication and advertising sales for the Los Angeles-based More
Advertisement

Westwood One to Air NCAA Women's Tournament
Westwood One Sports
Westwood One Sports
Westwood One will once again provide national audio coverage of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship, carrying every game from the Sweet Sixteen through the National Championship. Coverage begins Friday, March 27 with Sweet Sixteen doubleheaders from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX, More

Majority of Americans Back Social Media Ban for Kids
Edison Research at SSRS
Edison Research at SSRS
Edison Research has released its 2026 Infinite Dial report, offering a new snapshot of digital media behavior in the U.S. and highlighting growing concern over social media use among younger audiences. The long-running annual study, conducted in partnership with SiriusXM Media, finds that social media More

Gamut Launches Daily Cubs Podcast ''Off the Ivy''
Off The Ivy
Off The Ivy
Hubbard Radio's podcast network Gamut has launched Off the Ivy: A Chicago Cubs Podcast, a new daily show focused on one of Major League Baseball's most recognizable franchises. The podcast debuted Wednesday, March 25, ahead of Opening Day, and is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms. The show 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