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

Sean Hannity Marks 25 Years in Syndication
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Premiere Networks is marking the 25th anniversary of "The Sean Hannity Show" in national syndication this month, with the program now heard on more than 700 News/Talk stations nationwide. The show reaches 99% of the U.S. and attracts millions of listeners, according to Premiere. Its podcast edition has also More

iHeart, Premiere Expand Deal with Clay Travis
Clay Travis
Clay Travis
iHeartMedia and Premiere Networks have renewed and expanded their long-term relationship with multimedia personality Clay Travis, keeping him behind the microphone as co-host of the nationally syndicated "The Clay & Buck Show" while adding a new partnership with his recently launched Sport & State media More

MARC Media to Acquire Three Brevard Stations
MARC Media
MARC Media
MARC Media Group is expanding its Florida radio holdings with an agreement to acquire three Brevard County stations from Cumulus Media. The deal includes CHR WAOA-FM (107.1 A1A), Country WHKR-FM (102.7 The HitKicker) and Classic Rock WROK-FM (95.9 The Rocket). MARC will begin More
Advertisement

NAB Backs Voluntary Software-Based EAS Model
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is urging the FCC to move forward with a voluntary software-based approach to the Emergency Alert System, arguing that it could improve reliability, flexibility and cybersecurity while reducing broadcasters' dependence on dedicated EAS hardware. In comments More

CMA Reveals 2026 Broadcast Awards Finalists
CMA Broadcast Awards
CMA Broadcast Awards
The Country Music Association has announced the finalists for its 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards, recognizing radio personalities and stations for their contributions to Country music and their local communities. Broadcast Personality of the Year finalists are divided among Weekly National, Daily National, More

KILT/Houston Taps Matt Wood, Lois Lewis for Mornings
Lois ''Double-L'' Lewis and Matt Wood
Lois ''Double-L'' Lewis and Matt Wood
KILT-FM (100.3 The Bull) in Houston has named Lois "Double-L" Lewis and Matt Wood co-hosts of its new morning show, "The Morning Bull with Matt & Lois," beginning September 17. The show will air weekdays from 6-10am CT. Lewis joins The Bull from KNIX/Phoenix, where she most recently hosted middays, while 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