Radio Host

Radio hosts are the personality behind a radio station’s programming. They will schedule the various segments of the show, prepare commentary on the music selections of the day, record advertising spots, interact with listeners, and share information and their thoughts to the audience. (The music selection of most major radio stations is most commonly prepared in advance by the station’s director, rather than the host.) Some radio hosts will focus on tying all these different pieces together into a cohesive theme or narrative. Others lean into having a consistent structure for their content and allowing current events or trends to provide day-to-day variety to the show.

While the unique personality of each host is part of what flavors a radio show, all radio hosts tend to be outgoing, witty, and above all else - enjoy talking! Because a radio host’s work is live once they go on-air, every workday is a performance and the show must go on. The ability to stay cool under pressure and quickly adjust to any behind the scenes issues is a must. A musician’s experience working with an audience lends itself well to the pressures of the radio host. Additionally valuable are a musician’s repertoire knowledge and life experience of creating music which make for educational talking points and engaging stories.

Artists hoping to pursue a career in radio will often start at a small independent or college radio station to get some experience in the recording booth. Interning at a larger station is an excellent way to get a start in the industry while working another job. With the prevalence of internet, satellite, and syndicated broadcast radio, radio hosting as a full-time career is possible for those with the ambition to pursue it and a personality which shines in the recording booth. The best radio hosts often have a wealth of stories and a great variety of life experiences, so constant growth as a musician and person are valuable in this profession.