Benztown Releases Fourth Annual Top 50 VO List

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, March 8, 2018 | 1:19pm CT

Benztown

Benztown has released its fourth annual Benztown 50 List of Radio's Biggest Imaging Voices, a listing of the top 50 voiceover artists in the U.S. and Canada. Benztown enlisted P1 Media Group to compile and analyze industry data that was the foundation for the list. This year's Benztown 50 reflects increased industry participation and interest, with more than 300 U.S. and Canadian radio groups providing information. The Benztown 50 is based on several criteria, including number of radio station affiliates, station size and market.

Benztown President Dave "Chachi" Denes said, "Four years ago, we launched the Benztown 50 to raise awareness of the critical role that voiceover professionals play in creating powerful radio brands. Today, the value of voiceover professionals in the ever-evolving business of audio branding is undeniable. As an industry leader in producing high quality radio voiceover, imaging and audio branding, Benztown is proud to again recognize our industry's most accomplished voiceover talent across the U.S. and Canada. We congratulate the talented people who comprise this year's Benztown 50, and thank them for their continued contributions and leadership, as they set the highest standards of excellence in audio branding."

The following voiceover professionals comprise this year's Benztown 50. They will be honored at a reception at the W Hotel Hollywood on Thursday, May 3 at the Worldwide Radio Summit.

2017 Benztown 50 (in alphabetical order)

• John Beach
• Blaze Berdahl
• Jeff Berlin
• Sean Caldwell
• Beth Cameron
• Joe Cipriano
• Jude Corbett
• Chris Corley
• Jim Cutler
• Cousin Deke
• Ann DeWig
• Chad Erickson
• Dr. Dave Ferguson
• Scott Fisher
• Dave Foxx
• Donna Frank
• Pete Gustin
• Lynn Hoffman
• Vanessa James
• Dave Kampel
• Jake Kaplan
• David Kaye
• Austin Keyes
• Jeff Laurence
• Brian Lee
• Scott Matthews
• Rachel McGrath
• Jim Merkel
• Damon Oaks
• Drew Patterson
• Allan Peck
• John Reilly
• George W. Robinson
• Melody Sharp
• Roberta Solomon
• Joanna Stadwiser
• Steve Stone
• Jen Sweeney
• Paul Turner
• Heather Walters
• Neil Wilson
• Kelly Doherty
• John Willyard
• Jason Burns
• Pat Garrett
• Wendy K. Gray
• Steve Kamer
• Harry Legg
• John Pleisse
• Rich Van Slyke

For more information, visit benztown.com.

Fred Jacobs to Step Down as Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs Jacobs Media founder and President Fred Jacobs will step down at the end of 2026, with his brother, Paul Jacobs, succeeding him. Fred will become Chairman and remain involved in research, select client work and other areas of the business. "I've been thinking about this for a couple of years now, and I'm More

Civic Media's IA, IL Station Deals Total $3.3 Million Civic Media Civic Media's planned acquisition of 16 radio signals in Iowa and Illinois carries a combined purchase price of $3.3 million, according to asset purchase agreements filed with the FCC. Financial terms were not disclosed when the transactions were announced in October. Under More

Zimmer Names Mike Stern Director of Programming Mike Stern Zimmer Communications has named Mike Stern Director of Programming, effective November 16. The veteran programmer joins the company after 13 years as a consultant at Jacobs Media, where his clients included Zimmer for more than a decade. Stern will oversee programming, music and on-air strategy across More

Voiceover Talent Steve 'Zeus' Stewart Dies at 59 Steve ''Zeus'' Stewart Steve "Zeus" Stewart, a voiceover talent whose work spanned radio imaging, television networks and sports promotions, died October 26 at age 59, according to his obituary. He lived in Little River, SC. A cause of death was not disclosed. Born Steven Curran Stewart in Greensboro, NC, he grew up in Raleigh More

KS95 Names Gabe & Angie to Afternoon Drive Greg and Angie Hubbard's KSTP-FM (KS95) in Minneapolis-St. Paul has named Gabe Glidden and Angie Morales as its new afternoon hosts, effective December 28. The duo most recently hosted mornings at BIG 98.7 in Fargo-Moorhead. "We're thrilled to welcome Gabe & Angie to KS95," said Hubbard Vice President/Brand and Content More

Nikki Preston Joins Kiss 98.5 Buffalo Morning Show Nikki Preston Audacy's WKSE-FM (Kiss 98.5) in Buffalo has added Nikki Preston as morning co-host alongside Nicholas Picholas and Wease. The show airs weekdays from 6-10am ET. Preston returns to Western New York after more than a decade working in Southern California. She most recently hosted middays on 96.7 KCAL Rocks. More