The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) celebrates Rick Dees, the legendary radio host who dominated Los Angeles airwaves for over two decades, as a 2025 Giant of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts.
The accolade underscores his transformative impact on media through decades of innovation, entertainment, and cultural influence, with unparalleled achievements that elevated local radio to global heights and reshaped pop culture along the way. The awards ceremony and luncheon will be held Friday, November 14, at Gotham Hall in New York City.
Rick Dees
Rick’s career exploded with the 1976 Grammy-nominated smash hit "Disco Duck," the multi-platinum phenomenon selling well over six million copies worldwide, securing a People's Choice Award, and reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100—cementing his place as a Platinum Recording Artist.
After arriving in Los Angeles, Dees immediately began redefining morning radio. He transformed KIIS-FM into both the nation's highest-rated and highest-revenue-producing station, delivering extraordinary financial success to the group during his iconic tenure. He launched the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, syndicating it globally and reaching millions as a true global phenomenon with its hit music and infectious energy.
A 10-time consecutive Billboard Radio Personality of the Year winner, Marconi Award recipient, National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and Hollywood Walk of Fame star holder, Dees remains a trailblazing entrepreneur and voice-over artist today, continuing to innovate through his Rick Dees Hit Music app—a brand expansion platform that harnesses the universal power of music to connect and engage on a visceral level—and inspiring even more new ventures that bridge generations and cultures.
The Early Years
"Los Angeles was where the magic truly amplified, turning my passion into a beacon for music lovers everywhere," Dees reflected. "This Giants recognition celebrates all that made it happen. My love for L.A. and Hollywood's heartbeat will always pulse strong in everything I do."
Dees joins an illustrious 2025 class including award-winning actor and producer Kelsey Grammer; ABC News anchor and managing editor David Muir; retired TEGNA Inc. executive vice president Lynn Beall; communications attorney John R. Feore, Jr.; retired Cox Radio Group executive vice president Dick Ferguson; acclaimed actor Gary Sandy, best known for WKRP in Cincinnati; and Hall of Fame sportscaster Lesley Visser. ABC News Radio national correspondent Steven Portnoy will receive the LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award.