Bryan Webb’s talents span live radio production, creative concept development, artist and label booking, relationship management and creating compelling content across multiple platforms. In this conversation, he reflects on how his Kent State University education — and his time with Student Media — shaped the success he enjoys today.
1. What drew you to Kent State?
I started off my college career as a broadcast major, so the College of Communication & Information initially piqued my interest. I’m also from the Northeast Ohio area, so it was a very easy transition from high school to college for me. I have a brother who’s two years older than me, and he was attending Kent State at the time I was making my college decision, so he definitely played an influential part in that decision as well.
2. What were some of your most memorable and meaningful student media experiences?
I spent multiple semesters working with my fellow Flashes at TV2, doing everything from running prompter to floor directing to producing, as well as writing for The Daily Kent Stater. These studio media experiences connected me so deeply to Kent State and the Kent community, which ultimately ended up landing me my first internship with Flash Communications, an on-campus, student-run PR agency directly associated with Kent State’s University Communications and Marketing Department. I don’t normally brag, but I will say I’m still proud of winning Best Floor Director during my time at TV2.
3. How did being part of Student Media prepare you for postgraduation life and the working environment?
If it weren’t for Student Media, I wouldn’t have gained the experience that ultimately gave me the confidence to go out into the working world and advocate for my skills and myself. After being part of Student Media, I have concrete experience to point to in job interviews that proves my ability to learn, be motivated, work hard and collaborate in a professional setting. To this day, I still credit my time with TV2 as some of my earliest memories of realizing my passion for working in the broadcast world as a producer.
4. What were some of your favorite classes?
I thoroughly enjoyed all of my communications classes, including classes where I learned about the mechanics of PR, digital media and different writing styles. For me, some of my favorite classes became my favorite classes because of the professors I had teaching them.
5. How did coursework prep you for where you are today?
Learning the ins and outs of PR has helped me in my work life today by giving me an understanding of the ultimate goal of publicists in the music industry. Because I have this knowledge, it makes my conversations and pitches with artist publicists and PR teams much smoother, as I can offer potential interviews and opportunities that I know will be mutually beneficial.
6. Tell us about your career path.
I initially started out my career at a PR firm in Hudson, Ohio, doing digital work for clients. About eight months after I graduated, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where I worked on the social media team for Lyft for about a year. Then I transitioned into a digital producer role for an internationally syndicated morning radio show called The Ty Bentli Show. After about three and a half years with the morning show, I began working with Apple Music as a content producer for its Apple Music Country radio station and haven’t looked back since.
7. What is your superpower?
My superpower is my passion and the amount of care I put into what I do. There is no detail too small and no obstacle too big. I’ve worked on countless teams and with countless radio hosts and artists over the years, and there is no better compliment than when they recognize this and become comfortable with me as a producer because they know they’re in caring hands.
8. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment, personally and professionally?
Personally, I think my greatest accomplishment was taking a leap of faith just eight months after graduating from Kent State to move to Nashville, where I’ve lived and worked for 10 years now.
Professionally, I’m proud of the numerous live and scripted shows I’ve gotten to produce and write throughout my career, but above all, I think I’m most gratified by getting the opportunity to work with and produce Dolly Parton’s four-part radio show, What Would Dolly Do? Radio, on Apple Music Country in 2023.
9. How do you stay connected with KSU today?
I stay connected with Kent State through social media, both with the university itself and some of my favorite professors, who have turned into my mentors. I also most recently got together with some of my Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers in November when I was home for Thanksgiving, and reuniting with some of my lifelong friends is always a highlight of any trip back to Ohio.
10. What advice do you have for students and recent graduates?
My best advice would be to always know your worth and your power, but to remain open-minded and curious and never stop learning and growing. The world, inside and outside of the workplace, isn’t always as kind to you as you hoped it would be, but I promise, if you remain steadfast in your dreams and desires, nothing and no one can stop you from getting to where you want to go.
If it weren’t for Student Media, I wouldn’t have gained the experience that ultimately gave me the confidence to go out into the working world and advocate for my skills and myself.