The Radio World editorial team is sharing stories that we found particularly newsworthy, meaningful or fun to cover.
Time flies when you are having fun! I celebrated my one-year anniversary of joining Radio World’s editorial team in December, and it’s a role I relish and take very seriously. An awful lot happened in radio in 2025. I wrote 363 stories — some of them heartwarming, others not so much.
Regardless, it’s important to tell those stories in the way you, our loyal readers, have come to expect over Radio World’s history.
But not only has it been a thrill to craft these articles myself, it was also an educational experience. I’ve gained so much knowledge witnessing how my colleagues Paul McLane and Elle Kehres, plus our hard-working contributors like Randy Stine, cover the industry. You’ll see examples of those stories in my list below.
It has been a complete honor to work with Paul and Elle. Here’s to many more stories in 2026!
Apparent Barix Hacks Highlight Gaps in Cybersecurity
Throughout the year, I saw examples of how those in the radio industry turn to us when a story of importance breaks. That was the case around Labor Day, when small- and medium-sized station owners looked to Radio World after several Barix IP-based links were hijacked with explicit audio.
WPTF’s Transmitter Site Is Host to a Radio Time Capsule
We cover plenty of modern studio buildouts in radio, and I still believe — perhaps naively — that technology has brought us many advantages. But I still often yearn for simpler times.
Luckily, we here at Radio World get to revisit places back in time with some regularity, like the former WPTF(AM) studios in Cary, N.C., which Elle Kehres profiled with the help of area historian Heather Leah.
All of a sudden, though, this story climbed back up our rankings in terms of popularity; if you watched season 5 of “Stranger Things,” you’ll know why!
Audacy Commends KMOX for Tornado Coverage
It’s easy to look for negativity right now in the media landscape. But every now and then, I’m reminded why radio is still here and why I believe it’s not going anywhere. Unfortunately, these reminders often follow natural disasters.
Staff members at radio stations often go the extra mile to ensure their communities get the information they need when it’s required most. Paul McLane’s story on the efforts of Audacy St. Louis Chief Engineer Kyle Hammer, after a tornado struck KMOX(FM)’s tower in May, is another example.
NPR, CPB Settle Suit, but Public Media Wounds Are Evident
2025 was a really difficult year for public media. Not only were there the obvious implications of the rescission of U.S. federal funding, then there was the unforeseen dispute between National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over program distribution. I was able to gather perspectives from both CPB and NPR in a story that I felt underscored the importance of delivering news that we journalists have today.
FCC Launches Its Review of AM/FM Ownership Limits
From a new chair to two commissioners resigning to the government shutdown, it’s been a year like no other at the Federal Communications Commission. After Brendan Carr was appointed FCC chairman in January, he said he was serious about reform. Through efforts like the commission’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, it appears he is intent on following through.
The commission’s September open meeting, which was disrupted by protestors, was a good summation of where things stand, as Randy Stine details. Whether or not we will see vast change to the broadcast ownership rules is most certainly something we’ll be keeping a close eye on in 2026.
Special Report: Views on Processing From Out in the Field
Radio World frequently hears from experts in engineering and audio, and this feature by Paul McLane brings perspectives from five of the preeminent voices for radio on-air processing right now.
Women in Engineering: Lindsey Lounsbury of MaxxKonnect
The industry has a long way to go in terms of gender equality. But I found several inspirational tales of women who have made a name for themselves in broadcast engineering through Elle’s series, including Lindsey Lounsbury of MaxxKonnect.
“I just wouldn’t stop asking questions,” Lounsbury said of her journey through 88.1 KVSC(FM) at St. Cloud State University.
Broadcasters Must Prepare to “Win the AI Race”
Randy explored the uses of AI in radio in this feature earlier in 2025. I’m eager to see where opinions will land on AI use in the new year.
I don’t think the technology is going anywhere, particularly for software-based, back-end functions. But there was a notable shift, as we moved through the year, in consumer rejection toward AI for content, at least in its current form. Merriam-Webster named “slop” the word of the year for 2025, after all.
When a company the size and scale of iHeartMedia makes a pledge against using AI on the air, that’s pretty notable!
A Visit to “Shine 800 AM”
Mark Persons took us all on a trip to the island of Bonaire to visit the Trans World Radio AM transmitter site. The island is surrounded by the salt-filled Caribbean Sea, which means tower painting is required quite frequently!
SDRplay Thinks Big With the nRSP-ST
Nothing excites me more than new software-defined radio technology, and James Careless did a great job profiling SDRplay’s latest offering. The nRSP-ST is the ultimate remote SDR; connect it to an antenna, provide it WiFi or Ethernet, and you can scan the band from afar through a web-based interface. Most notably for your humble author’s purposes, my brother, Bobby, came through big time and delivered this to me under the Christmas tree this year!
Collaboration Not Competition: A New Path for Local Radio
This year, I became a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers’ New York City Chapter 15. Bud Williamson, in particular, is doing great things as the chapter chair, all the while operating stations through the Neversink Media Group in New York’s Hudson Valley. Check out some of his insights into building a platform for community radio.
