NAB Names 2026 Marconi Radio Award Winners.
The National Association of Broadcasters has announced the winners of the 2026 Marconi Radio Awards, recognizing stations and on-air personalities across the country. Boston, Houston and other markets scored multiple honors, while Hubbard Radio Washington, DC, President and General Manager Joel Oxley received the NAB National Radio Award for his contributions to broadcasting and local journalism.
The awards were presented last night at New York’s Edison Ballroom, on the eve of NAB Show New York.
Among the station honors, Beasley Media Group’s WBMX-FM Boston was named Major Market Station of the Year, while its morning show, “Karson and Kennedy,” won Major Market Personality of the Year. Hubbard Broadcasting’s “Purple Daily,” heard on KSTP-AM St. Paul, MN, was named Best Radio Podcast of the Year.
Houston stations earned three format honors. iHeartMedia’s KRBE-FM was named CHR Station of the Year, KKBQ-FM won Country Station of the Year, and KOVE-FM took Spanish Language Station of the Year.
Other format winners included iHeartMedia’s KBIG-FM Los Angeles for AC Station of the Year, Audacy’s WCBS-FM New York for Classic Hits Station of the Year, Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM Atlanta for News/Talk Station of the Year, and Audacy’s WEEI-FM Boston for Sports Station of the Year.
“The Bob & Sheri Show,” heard on Beasley’s WKQC-FM Charlotte, NC, won Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year. Other individual honors went to Karen Dalessandro of KSLX-FM Phoenix for Large Market Personality of the Year; Ron Olson and Karen Perrin of WRVR-FM Memphis for Medium Market Personality of the Year; and Chris Lawrence of WCHS-AM Charleston, WV, for Small Market Personality of the Year.
WIVK-FM Knoxville, TN, was named Legendary Station of the Year, while Julie Koehn of WLEN-FM Adrian, MI, received Legendary Radio Manager of the Year.
Oxley was recognized with the NAB National Radio Award for more than three decades of leadership and contributions to the industry. NAB cited his support for local journalism and public service, including his work helping establish WTOP and Federal News Network as trusted sources of news and information for the Washington region.
Established in 1989, the Marconi Radio Awards recognize outstanding achievement by radio stations and on-air personalities. Named for radio pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the awards are determined by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy following finalist selection by a committee of broadcasters.
The complete list of 2026 winners follows:
Legendary Station of the Year: WIVK-FM, Knoxville, TN
Legendary Radio Manager of the Year: Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian, MI
Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year: “The Bob & Sheri Show,” WKQC-FM, Beasley Media Group, Charlotte, NC
Major Market Personality of the Year: “Karson and Kennedy,” WBMX-FM, Boston
Large Market Personality of the Year: Karen Dalessandro, KSLX-FM, Phoenix
Medium Market Personality of the Year: Ron Olson and Karen Perrin, WRVR-FM, Memphis, TN
Small Market Personality of the Year: Chris Lawrence, WCHS-AM, Charleston, WV
Major Market Station of the Year: WBMX-FM, Boston
Large Market Station of the Year: WYXB-FM, Indianapolis
Medium Market Station of the Year: WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL
Small Market Station of the Year: KBHP-FM, Bemidji, MN
Best Radio Podcast of the Year: “Purple Daily,” KSTP-AM, Hubbard Broadcasting, St. Paul, MN
AC Station of the Year: KBIG-FM, Los Angeles
CHR Station of the Year: KRBE-FM, Houston
Classic Hits Station of the Year: WCBS-FM, New York
College Radio Station of the Year: WRRC-FM, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Country Station of the Year: KKBQ-FM, Houston
News/Talk Station of the Year: WSB-AM, Atlanta
Religious Station of the Year: WGTS-FM, Washington, D.C.
Rock Station of the Year: WIYY-FM, Baltimore
Spanish Language Station of the Year: KOVE-FM, Houston
Sports Station of the Year: WEEI-FM, Boston
Urban Station of the Year: WHQT-FM, Miami
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