New CLE Episodes With Giants of Broadcasting Steve Jones & Mike McVay

26 September 2024

New CLE Episodes With Giants of Broadcasting Steve Jones & Mike McVay

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 26, 2024 — Benztown, a global leader in radio imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasting and jingles, announces the release today of two new episodes of Chachi Loves Everybody, an original podcast produced by Benztown and hosted by Benztown President and audio brand builder Dave “Chachi” Denes. The episodes feature Chachi’s special guests Steve Jones, President and CEO, Skyview Networks, and Mike McVay. President, McVay Media Consulting.

Chachi sits down with Jones and McVay, who will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 12th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

To listen to the new Chachi Loves Everybody podcast episodes, visit: https://bit.ly/ChachiLovesEverybody.

Chachi Loves Everybody takes listeners with Denes – better known as “Chachi” – as he sits down for candid conversations with radio’s legends, master brand builders, up-and-comers, and innovators in the burgeoning audio space, revealing the true stories behind their successes and their insights into building iconic brands through audio.

Chachi Loves Everybody’s first new episode features Steve Jones, the multi-award-winning President and CEO of Skyview Networks. He discusses with Chachi his lifeline passion for news and his journey to becoming a Giant of Broadcasting.

Prior to joining Skyview Networks in 2019, Jones served the Walt Disney Company as Vice President and General Manager for ABC Radio, leading strategic planning, business development, programming, and operations for ABC-branded audio content—covering news, entertainment, lifestyle, and sports. With Jones in this role, Disney/ABC entered into a partnership with Skyview Networks in 2014 to create a stand-alone audio business for ABC News.

Jones first joined ABC News as a writer in 1986 and was an early digital leader as Vice President of Programming and Operations for ABCNEWS.com, where he oversaw all content and production. During this time, Jones launched the first regularly scheduled webcast by a network, oversaw the launch of interactive web programming and co-produced ABC’s online millennium coverage along with other special event programming. Before his many roles inside ABC, Jones worked as a radio newscaster, disc jockey, and television reporter.

As a writer and producer for ABC News, Jones was recognized for his work with two Writers Guild of America Awards and an Overseas Press Club Award. As a radio executive, he has been named to Radio Ink’s annual “40 Most Powerful” list (2017, 2018, 2023), was named “News Executive of the Year” twice by Radio & Records (2005, 2007), received the Ward L. Quaal Leadership Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America (2017) and the First Amendment Service Award from the Radio Television News Directors Foundation (2017). Jones serves on the Board of Directors for the Broadcasters Foundation of America and is on the Board of Trustees at Adelphi University.

On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Steve Jones about topics including:

Growing up in Flushing, Queens, and getting involved in journalism and true crime at a young age while listening to police scanners
Calling nightclubs as an intern at WPIX and doing mornings at WLIR after several station flips
Joining ABC Radio, and what it was like to work at a national news network, followed by the acquisition of ABC by Disney
The transition from ABC News to Skyview Networks
Navigating the changing news industry
The importance of supporting independent content creators
The Impact of journalism in today’s media landscape
The value of mentors and the important work of the Broadcasters Foundation of America
And more!

The second new episode of Chachi Loves Everybody features Chachi’s guest, Mike McVay, President of McVay Media Consulting, and a radio veteran of over 40 years with expertise in content creation, broadcasting, network syndication, talent coaching, artist development, and podcasting. He was previously EVP of Content & Programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One and has owned and operated radio stations in multiple markets. He is currently a partner in Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Network and has curated podcasts for Westwood One, NatGeo and Disney+. He has developed and launched several highly successful nationally syndicated programs.

McVay is a 2021 Inductee to the West Virginia Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, The Country Radio Broadcasters, the Radio Committee for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Research Center and is a voting member of the Country Music Association as well as The Academy of Country Music.

In this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, McVay covers topics with Chachi including:

Growing up outside of Pittsburgh in a railroad family and deciding to do radio at an early age
Getting his first radio gig at WHJB at 15, then dropping out of college and moving to West Virginia to become a Program Director
His work in several cities and stations before landing in L.A., where he was surrounded by legendary air talent whom he learned from
Becoming a station manager and GM
Buying his first radio station and what it was like to own multiple stations
The tremendous success of McVay Media, recruiting top consultants serving over 200 stations
Joining Cumulus Media and Westwood One as EVP of Content & Programming advising over 500 stations
And more!

“The insights shared during Chachi’s interviews underscore exactly why these trailblazing Giants are being honored during our upcoming event in November at Gotham Hall,” said Library of American Broadcasting Co-Chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman.

For more information about the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony, and for a full list of honorees, visit: https://www.tvradiolibrary.org/giants-2024.