For one day, the rules softened.
The studios didn’t belong solely to the veterans, the talent, the programmers, and the pros who live behind the glass every single day.
For one day… they belonged to the future.
Across the country, radio stations opened their doors—not just physically, but emotionally—to something bigger than ratings, bigger than revenue, bigger than strategy. “Take Your Child to Work Day” wasn’t just observed. It was felt. And from major markets to hometown signals, the industry showed flashes of something powerful: connection, curiosity, and continuity.
Because when a child steps into a studio for the first time—when they put on those headphones, lean toward that microphone, and hear their own voice come back through the speakers—that’s not just a moment.
That’s a spark.
And sparks still matter in this business.
In Philadelphia, clusters under iHeartMedia, including brands like WDAS-FM and Q102 (WIOQ-FM), transformed their buildings into living classrooms. Kids watched live programming unfold, saw how decisions are made in real time, and realized quickly that radio is not just talking—it’s timing, it’s instinct, it’s art.
In New York, inside Audacy, stations like WFAN and WCBS-FM gave young visitors a backstage pass to one of the most competitive media environments in the country. Producers, hosts, and engineers slowed things down just enough to explain the magic behind the madness.
In Chicago, home of The Fred Show, kids got to witness how a nationally syndicated show actually comes together. The energy, the pace, the chemistry—it’s one thing to hear it. It’s another thing entirely to see it happen live.
Out west in Los Angeles, KIIS-FM showcased the evolution of radio into a full multimedia experience. Kids didn’t just see studios—they saw social media command centers, digital production workflows, and how a moment on-air becomes something that lives everywhere.
And in markets across the country—big and small—the story repeated itself.
Parents brought their children into the spaces where careers have been built, where challenges have been faced, where victories—both big and small—have been celebrated. And for a few hours, the industry paused just long enough to pass something down.
Not just knowledge.
Not just access.
But inspiration.
Now let me bring this one a little closer to home.
Today, I had the opportunity to bring my daughter, Arizona-Callie, to work with me here at On The Dial. She’s 12 years old. Loves basketball. Straight-A student. Focused, driven, and deserving of every opportunity to see what hard work looks like up close.
And today, she got that.
She got to see what her dad does—not just in theory, but in real time. The calls, the writing, the pace, the passion, the pressure, the purpose. She saw it all. And moments like that? You don’t take those for granted.
I’ll be using a picture of Arizona-Callie, and I to commemorate the day—because this wasn’t just another Thursday.
This was a memory.
As I said today, and I mean every word of it:
“As President and Publisher of On The Dial, today wasn’t about business—it was about legacy. My daughter Arizona is 12, she loves basketball, she’s a straight-A student, and she deserved a day with her dad. And I’m grateful I could show her what this journey looks like up close.”
That’s what this day is supposed to be.
Not just exposure.
Connection.
And while the industry continues to evolve—while conversations about digital transformation, restructuring, and the future of media dominate the headlines—days like today remind us of something simple and powerful:
This business is still about people.
Always has been.
Always will be.
So here’s where we take it a step further.
If you brought your child to work today—whether you’re in radio, media, or any part of this industry—and you captured a moment that meant something to you…
We want to see it.
Send your photos and stories to info@onthedial.net.
Let’s celebrate this together.
Because long after the meetings end, the formats shift, and the platforms evolve… these are the moments that last.
And somewhere in one of those studios today, a future broadcaster, programmer, engineer—or maybe even a future industry disruptor—put on a pair of headphones for the very first time…
-JPS