Bob Lawrence To Oversee National Radio Talent System

RAB has announced the hiring of Bob Lawrence as general manager to oversee the National Radio Talent System (NRTS), a division of the trade organization. Based in Madison, Mississippi, Lawrence will report to RAB President and CEO Erica Farber and joins RAB at a pivotal time as it prepares to reboot five NRTS institutes in 2023 including 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.

Bob Lawrence

Lawrence has held nearly every position in radio including on-air, programming and sales. Most recently, he served as general manager/market manager at New South Radio in Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi, and prior to that as vice president of programming at Saga Communications. Additionally, Bob has a strong research background including ten years as senior vice president of operations at Broadcast Architecture prior to launching research company Pinnacle Media Worldwide.

Since acquiring the 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.

“NRTS plays an important role in RAB’s mission to develop and attract new talent to radio,” said Erica Farber, president and chief executive officer, RAB. “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.”

To find out more information about the radio talent institutes, log on to www.nationalradiotalentsystem.