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

MIW Study: Women Gain in GM, Programming Roles
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW)
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW)
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) has released its 25th Annual Gender Analysis Study, charting the progress of women in radio management roles across the U.S. The long-running study, compiled from raw data collected by PrecisionTrak, tracks women serving as General Managers, Sales Managers, More

Andy Hawk to Lead Audacy's Sacramento Rock Outlets
Andy Hawk
Andy Hawk
Audacy has expanded Andy Hawk's leadership role, naming him Brand Manager of Classic Rock KSEG (96.9 The Eagle) and KRXQ (98 Rock). In the new position, Hawk will oversee content strategy, talent, operations and branding for both stations, while continuing to serve as Brand Manager of KKDO (ALT 94.7). More

Podcasts Overtake AM/FM in Spoken-Word Audio
Edison Research
Edison Research
Spoken-word audio platforms now account for a quarter of all daily audio listening among Americans 13 and over, according to new data from Edison Research's Share of Ear study, marking a significant shift in how consumers engage with spoken-word content. The research shows that in 2015, AM/FM radio More
Advertisement

Report: Sports Audio Delivers Avid, Diverse Fans
Audacy Insights
Audacy Insights
New research from the Audacy Insights Team finds that today's most avid sports fans are younger, more diverse and more likely to be reached through sports audio platforms than traditional media alone. The first half of 2026 is set to deliver a packed sports calendar, from global events such as the Winter More

AWM Names 2026 National Board Leadership
Alliance for Women in Media (AWM)
Alliance for Women in Media (AWM)
The Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) has announced its 2026 National Board of Directors and Officers as the organization marks its 75th anniversary. "As the Alliance for Women in Media celebrates 75 years of advancing women across the industry, strong and visionary leadership More

Brian McKnight Sues Urban One, Raleigh Station
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
R&B singer Brian McKnight has filed a defamation lawsuit against Urban One, WFXC-FM (Foxy 107.1) Raleigh, and on-air host Karen Clark, alleging they falsely portrayed him as an abusive and neglectful father, reports AllHipHop in an exclusive report. According to the 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