Lawrence To Run Nat’l Radio Talent System

• RAB announced the hire of veteran radio executive Bob Lawrence as General Manager to oversee the organization’s National Radio Talent System (NRTS) division. Based in Madison, MS, Lawrence will report to RAB President & CEO Erica Farber and joins RAB at a pivotal time as it prepares to reboot five NRTS institutes in 2023, including the Confer Radio Talent Institute, GAB Radio Talent Institute, Hubbard St. Louis/MBA Radio Talent Institute, Kellar Radio Talent Institute and the inaugural IBA Foundation Radio Talent Institute.

Lawrence has held nearly every position in radio, including on-air, programming and sales. He most recently served as GM/Market Manager at New South Radio in Jackson and Meridian, MS, and prior to that was VP of Programming for Saga Communications. Lawrence also has a strong research background, including a decade as SVP of Operations at Broadcast Architecture prior to launching Pinnacle Media Worldwide.

“NRTS plays an important role in RAB’s mission to develop and attract new talent to radio,” said Farber. “Bringing in a strong leader that can hit the ground running and further develop our vision, build on the strategy of the past institutes and grow the program is key to our future. I’m excited to partner with Bob Lawrence as we further develop NRTS.”

Since acquiring the National Radio Talent System in 2020, RAB has assembled an NRTS Board Committee chaired by Seven Mountain Media’s Kristin Cantrell and an NRTS Alumni Advisory Council focused on helping the organization develop and plan for future institutes, recruiting new talent into broadcast radio and fostering engagement between broadcasters and institute graduates. To find out more about the upcoming Radio Talent Institutes, visit nationalradiotalentsystem.com.