We look forward to you joining us for the Kellar Radio Talent Institute June 5th - 14th, 2023.
Full, but watch for the next Radio Talent Institute announcements soon!
The Launchpad for Success in Radio!
The Kellar Radio Talent Institute is a talent incubator for the broadcast industry at Appalachian State University and is the proud affiliate of the National Radio Talent System. The Institute brings in broadcast professionals from around the country to be the Guest Professional Faculty and to teach all the sessions during this intensive 10-day summer program.
Participating professionals praise the Kellar Radio Talent Institute and embrace the Institute as a "go-to" place to find bright, talented young broadcasters entering the industry. Students say this is the best thing that have ever done to get their career started.
College students from universities throughout the state and region apply to be accepted into the Kellar Radio Talent Institute. Once they complete the institute, they become part of the industry and are highlighted for their professional career development.
The National Radio Talent System and the Keller Radio Talent Institute is the campus-to-career connection most students need to begin their broadcast career. It is the connection for broadcasters to discover and hire entry-level talent today that can be the leaders in the broadcast industry tomorrow.
Retired Broadcaster Art Kellar worked with lifelong broadcaster and practitioner-in-residence, Dan Vallie to make the inaugural Radio Talent Institute possible, and it began here at Appalachian State in North Carolina, to bring young people into the radio industry.
Kellar stated, "There is a need to bring fresh talent into the industry at every level, to contribute to make the industry even more dynamic, and there are plenty of people in the industry that want to help young people enter the industry and be successful."
Appalachian State University is a destination institution for dedicated students who seek challenging academic programs and co-curricular experiences, engaged faculty and a vibrant campus culture that will shape them into engaged, responsible global citizens.
Here are some Kellar Radio Talent Institute highlights See Curriculum for more
- Now is the Time to Start Thinking Like a Pro
- Radio's Digital Content & Social Media
- Programming Sports Talk Radio
- How to Get In and Win
- Marketing and Promotions - Doing It Right
- Basics of Great Voice Work and Production
- Goal Setting & Time Management
- Doing It Live & Voice Tracking
- How to Get a Good Job
- How to Do A Great Talk Radio Show
- Basics of Doing a Great Music Radio Show
Daily Curriculum
Click the image below to view the 2022 Kellar Radio Talent Institute class schedule.
To download the entire schedule in a printable PDF click here
Recent Guest Instructors
Adam Witten
VP Broadcast Operations
Learfield
Winston-Salem, NC
AJ
Regional SVP, Programming
iHeartMedia - Charlotte & Raleigh
Charlotte, NC
Anish Schroff
Play-by-play Announcer, Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, NC
Bo Thompson
WBT Morning Show Host
1110/99.3 WBT Radio One
Charlotte, NC
Brian Grube
Director of Sales
Capitol Broadcasting
Charlotte, NC
Cameron Moore
Air Talent/PD, KISS FM
Asst. PD/Music Dir. WSOC FM
Beasley Media Group
Charlotte, NC
Chris Edge
Dir. Integrated Marketing/ PD, Air Talent
That Station 95.7 - Capitol Broadcasting
Raleigh, NC
Clay Walker
Director of Programming Operations
Audacy, 93.1 The Wolf/WPAW
Greensboro, NC
Craig Mundy
Sr. Account Manager
iHeartMedia
Charlotte, NC
Dave Carwile
President
iHeartRadio
Charlotte Metro, NC
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Kellar Radio Talent Institute
Art Kellar
Through the support of lifetime broadcaster Art Kellar, The National Radio Talent System and Appalachian State University are proud to present the Kellar Radio Talent Institute, committed to discovering and preparing a new generation of broadcast professionals.
Kellar stated, "There is a need to bring fresh talent into the industry at every level, to contribute to make the industry even more dynamic, and there are plenty of people in the industry that want to help young people enter the industry and be successful."
Kellar became a disc jockey in Ronceverte, West Virginia. He told an interviewer, "I got off the train and walked the two blocks to the [radio] station, and when I walked inside my very first thought was, I've got to own one of these."
Kellar founded O.K. Broadcasting in 1956 and that year purchased his first radio station, WEEL-AM in Fairfax, Virginia. In the 1960s and 1970s, WEEL was one of the Washington area's most popular Top 40 stations.  In 1967, he founded EZ Communications, Inc., which eventually owned and operated 26 AM and FM stations across the United States.
In 1996, after the easing of deregulation rules, EZ Communications merged with Boston-based American Radio Systems, Inc. (ARS), sealing a $655 million deal that made the resulting company the second largest station operator in the country. Kellar retired shortly afterward.
His radio stations entertained millions of people, from Seattle to Miami, from Philadelphia to Phoenix. With very little capital, and lots of work, foresight, vision, and talent, he built a company worth more than $500 million.
Woody Allen of Allen Financial Services commented, A mark of his greatness is the number of people who have better lives because of him; an even greater mark is that, oftimes, the recipient of his generosity never knew that it was Art who provided it."
If there ever was a real gentleman, a person who said 'I'll do this' and who always did it, it was Art Kellar. He was a man among men, if I might use that old cliche. I was so enthused when I heard the idea of this institute that I wanted to do anything that we could possibly do to make it successful, because anything that Art Kellar had his hands on was always done to perfection.
George Beasley - Founder - and former Chairman and CEO - Beasley Broadcast Group
Art was always reaching out to help others, and would go out of his way to do it. I always appreciated his willingness to give through what God had blessed him with. He cared.
Joe Gibbs, Former Coach, Washington Commanders, Owner Joe Gibbs Racing
Appalachian State University
Appalachian is a special place. Our location in Boone, North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, a place of great beauty abundant with cultural and recreational opportunities, profoundly shapes how our community lives, works and learns together. Once you become a part of our community, you never really leave.
Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Appalachian was founded in 1899. The pioneering spirit necessary to overcome the mountains’ hardships quickly characterized the institution, giving Appalachian a special niche in higher education that continues today. After more than a century, students still feel the pull of this unique place to transform their lives, and Appalachian has remained focused on providing students with educational experiences that are not only life-changing but world-changing.
Our Mission
The Kellar Radio Talent Institute attracts, trains and creates opportunity for talented, enthusiastic and well educated young adults who have a passion for the broadcast industry. College students, recent graduates, grad students, interns and part-timers at radio or TV stations work through an intensive 10-days to bring them to a better understanding of each aspect of the industry, including on-air, programming, writing, news, sports and sales; all students also participate in RAB training and take the exam to earn their Radio marketing Professional Certification.
The Kellar Radio Talent Institute prepares the students to excel in entry-level positions upon their graduation, and better ensures they get a start in and have a successful career in broadcasting.
Part of the goal is to prepare students, along with their Liberal Arts education, to the point that they can walk into a professional radio station environment and not only be comfortable, but to excel in every area of the business, from on-air to programming to sales to management ... we expect no less than to prepare a future generation of broadcast leaders.
We look to attract the brightest of the brightest students to bring fresh talent into the industry who can contribute to make the industry even more dynamic.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding applying or need assistance in any way, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.
- NRTS Contact: Erica Farber
- Call: 972-753-6720
- Email: nrts@nationalradiotalentsystem.com
Appalachian State Contact
- Dan Vallie: valliehill@appstate.edu
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