Johnjay & Rich Earn Kidd Kraddick Award
• Morning Show Boot Camp (MSBC) is pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s Kidd Kraddick Award will be The Johnjay & Rich Show — syndicated by Premiere Networks and based at iHeartMedia’s KZZP (104.7 Kiss FM)/Phoenix. Named in honor of the late, legendary Kidd Kraddick, the award recognizes those of unparalleled success, inimitable style and authenticity. exemplary service to their community and serving as a constant source of inspiration to other shows and personalities.
As is tradition, each year’s recipient is charged with selecting the following year’s honoree. Your 2024 honoree, Kevin Rolston of The KVJ Show on Hubbard’s WRMF/West Palm Beach, said in selecting Johnjay and Rich, “Kidd Kraddick’s contributions to the radio industry extend well beyond his show, and he trained many great talents of the next generation like Bert Weiss, Rich Shertenlieb, and Rich Berra. Acknowledging Kidd’s contributions makes Johnjay and Rich an obvious choice for this award. They have dominated Phoenix for more than 20 years and are expanding their brand of entertainment nationwide. They are authentic, engaging personalities, and their work with the #LoveUp and #LovePup Foundations is extraordinary. I am honored to present them with the Kidd Kraddick Award at Bootcamp in Austin.”
“The Kidd Kraddick Award holds so much meaning in our industry, and to be chosen by someone we respect so much, makes it even more special,” said Johnjay Van Es. “We’ve always looked up to the legacy Kidd left behind — his talent, his heart, and the way he used his platform to truly make a difference. To be recognized in that same spirit is humbling beyond words. We’re so proud of the work we’ve done with #LovePup and #LoveUp, and many other events in the community, and it means the world that those things matter just as much as the show itself.”
Rich Berra remarked, “My Italian immigrant grandfather used to say to me in his semi-broken English, ‘You sure do talk a lot for a kid that doesn’t know a lot about anything.’ Little did he know that would be the cornerstone of my career alongside Johnjay. We just celebrated our 25th anniversary together, and I feel like we are just getting started. What a crazy honor to step inside the same shoes of our radio IDOLS. We are so not worthy, but honored to accept this very special acknowledgment.”
Past Kidd Kraddick Award honorees include Bert Weiss of the syndicated The Bert Show, The YEA Networks-syndicated The Kidd Kraddick Show, The Ace & TJ Show, The Dwyer & Michaels Show, Paul Castronovo of WBGG (Big 105.9)/Miami, Seattle’s own BJ Shea, Rochester’s Brother Wease, Mojo of Mojo in the Morning on WKQI/Detroit, and Dave Ryan of KDWB/Minneapolis.
The Kraddick Award will be presented during Talentmasters’ 37th Annual Morning Show Boot Camp (MSBC), taking place August 7-9 at the Austin Marriott Downtown. Register HERE.
