Radio Hall of Fame

05/20/2026

The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago is proud to announce the eight inductees selected for the Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026, honoring legendary on-air personalities, broadcasters, and industry leaders whose voices and vision helped shape radio history.

The Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes Boomer Esiason, Dennis Green, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Helen Little, Bob Pittman, Rickey Smiley, Charlie Van D**e, and Chicago radio icon Fred Winston.

The inductees will be honored during the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, October 8, at The Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.

Ticket proceeds from the event will benefit the Museum of Broadcast Communications, proud home of the Radio Hall of Fame and dedicated to preserving the history and future of broadcasting.

For tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-radio-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony

04/22/2026

The 24 nominees for the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame have been announced!

Selected by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee—with input from across the industry and passionate listeners nationwide—this year’s class represents the voices, personalities, and innovators who have shaped the sound of radio.

Congratulations to the 2026 nominees advancing to the industry voting panel:
* Andie Summers
* Big D & Bubba
* Bob Stroud
* Boomer Esiason
* Charlie Van D**e
* Enrique Santos
* Fred Winston
* Funkmaster Flex
* Helen Little
* Joey Reynolds
* John & Ken
* Johnny Magic
* Kevin Matthews
* Kid Leo
* Larry Elder
* Lee Arnold
* Monica May
* Pat Hughes
* Raul Brindis
* Rickey Smiley
* Ryan Cameron
* Shotgun Tom Kelly
* "The Electrifying Mojo"
* 'Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!'

Voting kicks off Friday, April 24 and runs through May 8, with the top six vote-getters earning induction into the 2026 class.

The official inductees will be revealed on Wednesday, May 20, leading up to a celebratory night at the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, October 8 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park.
Stay tuned—ticket information and more event details are coming soon!

09/12/2025

The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced today the

selection of eight new Legends inductees into the Radio Hall of Fame, recognizing the talents and efforts of on-air personalities, programmers and operators who contributed with greatness to the radio industry and have since passed away.

The following eight radio legends take their place in the Radio Hall of Fame immediately:

Amos Brown - On-Air Personality

Richard Burden - Broadcast Engineer

Joanne Church – Research Executive

Jed The Fish - On-Air Personality

Irna Phillips – Scriptwriter, Producer and Programming Executive

Steve Smith - Programming Executive

Dale Sommers - “The Truckin’ Bozo,” On-Air Personality

Don Wade - On-Air Personality

The Radio Hall of Fame will recognize its 2025 class of inductees at the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Swissotel Hotel, 323 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL. Tickets are on sale now at: www.radiohalloffame.com.

09/11/2025

The Museum of Broadcast Communications sadly announces the passing of its founder and longtime broadcaster Bruce DuMont, who passed away last night at the age of 81. Without Bruce’s perseverance in collecting and preserving Chicago’s television and radio history, there would be no institution like ours today.

Bruce DuMont’s career spanned decades and multiple platforms. He produced and appeared on programs such as ‘Noonbreak with Lee Phillip’, ‘Chicago Tonight’, and ‘Extension 720’ and became a respected voice in Chicago media. He was also the creator and longtime host of Beyond the Beltway, a nationally syndicated political talk program that gave listeners across the country a unique, independent perspective on current affairs. In 1982 he launched the Museum of Broadcast Communications, which has since grown into one of the nation’s leading archives dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of radio and television.

“Bruce DuMont’s dedication to preserving our broadcast heritage gave Chicago and the nation an invaluable cultural resource,” said David Plier, Chairman and Interim President & CEO of the Museum. “We extend our condolences to his family and friends, and we honor his extraordinary contribution to media history.”

08/28/2025

Radio legend Gary Burbank, best known as the longtime 700 WLW host and the voice behind the beloved character Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun, has passed away at age 84. A master of “theater of the mind,” Burbank entertained listeners with a cast of unforgettable characters including Gilbert Gnarley and Howlin’ Blind Muddy Slim, making him one of the most creative personalities in talk radio history. His impact was recognized with multiple Marconi Awards and his 2012 induction into the Radio Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of broadcasting’s most influential voices.

08/06/2025

Howard Stern's SiriusXM Show May End After 20 Years
After nearly two decades on SiriusXM, The Howard Stern Show is reportedly set to conclude later this year. Stern's current $100 million contract is set to expire, and sources indicate that SiriusXM does not plan to offer a renewal that meets his financial expectations. While discussions about retaining his extensive content library are ongoing, the future of the live show remains uncertain.

06/30/2025

Tickets On Sale Now for 2025 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, October 30th at the Swissotel Hotel in Chicago. Tickets available at museum.tv/rhof

The class of 2025 Radio Hall of Fame inductees:
Tom Carballo, or Mojo, of Mojo In The Morning – WKQI FM / Detroit
Alice Cooper, Nights with Alice Cooper / Alice's Attic
Colin Cowherd, The Herd with Colin Cowherd
DeDe McGuire, DeDe In The Morning
Mike McVay, McVay Media
Martha Quinn, The Martha Quinn Show, iHeartMedia
Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch, The Bob & Sheri Show
Scott Simon, Weekend Edition Saturday, National Public Radio
Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart
Julie Talbott, Premiere Networks

Kraig Kitchin, Co-Chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, said: “Our 2025 Induction Ceremony and Celebration will be
a special, standing room only, event honoring the talents, history and contributions of 11 incredible people. I
cannot wait to celebrate the careers and impact of these men and women who’ve made a forever positive
impact on the radio industry!”

Dennis Green, Co-Chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, said: “It is an honor to induct another amazing class of
talented individuals to the Radio Hall of Fame that adds to the history of radio. These Radio Hall of Famers
have entertained us, informed us, and helped to bring special moments to our lives through a medium that
does this better than any other. I look forward to welcoming this year’s inductees as we honor their legacies
and share their stories which will serve as an inspiration for future generations to come.”

05/02/2025

The Radio Hall of Fame has announced the 2025 Nominees!

The 24 nominees were chosen by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee with input from the radio industry and listeners. Voting begins Tuesday, May 27th, and runs through Monday, June 16th. Nearly 1000 industry members will receive a ballot and the top six vote recipients will gain induction during a ceremony held on Thursday, October 30th at the Swissotel Hotel in Chicago. as part of the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame induction class. An additional two inductees, for a total of eight, will be selected by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.

The Nominees for this year are:
Alice Cooper
Bert Weiss
Big D & Bubba
Bob and Sherri
Bob Sirott
Bob Stroud
Colin Cowherd
D.L. Hughley
DeDe McGuire
Enrique Santos
Funkmaster Flex
Joey Reynolds
John Garabedian
John Kobylt & Ken Chiampou, co-hosts of The Jon & Ken Show
Kevin Matthews
Kid Leo
Larry Elder
Laurie De Young
Mark “Hawkeye” Louis
Martha Quinn
Mojo in the Morning
Raul Brindis
Scott Simon
Shelley Stewart

02/05/2025

The same day it passed through the Senate Commerce Committee, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has been reintroduced in the US House of Representatives.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has been reintroduced in the US House of Representatives by Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Frank Pallone.

02/05/2025

One week after the legislation’s reintroduction to Congress, the AM Radio Vehicle Act is now eligible for a full Senate vote.

Read more here:

One week after the legislation's reintroduction to Congress, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is now eligible for a full Senate vote.