For years, the radio industry has become accustomed to a familiar headline:
Another executive exits. Another company starts over.
That’s not what’s happening at Salem Media Group.
Less than 24 hours after announcing the upcoming retirement of longtime broadcast leader Allen Power, Salem has unveiled what appears to be a carefully constructed handoff designed years in advance rather than assembled in a boardroom overnight.
The company has promoted Linnae Young to President of Broadcast Media, effective October 1, while also elevating Jeff Reisman to Executive Vice President of Operations.
And if you read between the lines, this isn’t just about replacing executives.
It’s about preserving institutional knowledge at a time when many media companies are losing it.
Young’s promotion caps a remarkable three-decade run with Salem that began in 1995. Over the years, she has become one of the company’s most influential executives, helping shape sales strategy, revenue growth initiatives, and operational direction across its broadcast portfolio.
She currently serves as Salem’s Chief Revenue Officer and isn’t stepping away from that responsibility. Instead, she’ll add President of Broadcast Media to an already expansive role, signaling Salem’s confidence in one of its longest-tenured leaders.
Her influence also extends beyond Salem’s walls.
Young serves on the Board of Directors of the Radio Advertising Bureau and was recently appointed to the Board of Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, further cementing her reputation as one of radio’s most respected advocates for leadership development and industry growth.
Meanwhile, Reisman’s promotion feels equally intentional.
After 22 years with Salem, he’s held just about every major leadership role a broadcaster can imagine.
General Sales Manager.
Director of Sales.
Market Manager.
Regional Vice President.
Senior Vice President.
The résumé reads less like a climb and more like a master class in understanding how local radio actually works.
Now he’ll oversee operations across the company’s broadcast division at a time when radio companies face pressure from changing consumer habits, evolving technology, and increased competition for audience attention.
Salem also revealed that senior leaders Mark Durkin, Jeff Mitchell, and Chad Gammage will assume expanded responsibilities, though specific details have yet to be announced.
And that’s where this story becomes more interesting than a standard promotion announcement.
Because this isn’t a reset.
It’s a reinforcement.
While much of the industry has spent the last several years reacting to disruption, Salem appears to be betting on continuity.
The company isn’t handing the keys to outsiders with impressive LinkedIn profiles and little understanding of its culture.
Instead, it’s elevating people who have spent decades building it.
People who understand the stations.
The markets.
The sellers.
The programmers.
The managers.
The mission.
Will every company choose that approach?
Probably not.
But in an industry that sometimes feels obsessed with chasing the next shiny object, Salem is making a different statement:
Experience still matters.
Relationships still matter.
And sometimes the strongest succession plan isn’t found through a nationwide search.
Sometimes it’s already sitting down the hall.
October 1 won’t simply mark the end of the Allen Power era.
It may offer a glimpse into how one of radio’s most established broadcasters plans to navigate whatever comes next.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.
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