WHP’s Ken Matthews Believes Talk Radio Will Save Live Radio

Harrisburg radio host Ken Matthews believes that he became a better host following a four-year stint as a fill-in for the late Rush Limbaugh. Matthews, a staunch conservative Republican with a background as a Top 40 DJ, possesses some striking similarities to the late radio icon.

Much like Limbaugh, Matthews paid his dues as a radio jock in several small markets. The New Jersey native spent time in Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. His passion for the U.S. Constitution and the core values that make America unique is evident in the way he addresses his audience.

During Limbaugh’s final months battling lung cancer, Matthews courageously engineered arguably the most successful talk radio program to its final stages. Matthews told Barrett News Media that talk radio would “save live radio” because it’s the most viable format in the medium. 

Recently, we sat down with Matthews to discuss what it was like meeting Rush Limbaugh and host his final show. Matthews also opened up about the process to find Limbaugh’s replacements. 

Ryan Hedrick: Tell us about your station and your show on 580 WHP in Harrisburg.

Ken Matthews: The station has a fabulous reputation; it has been around for almost 100 years. My show is very much an extension of my personality. I did a live audition there about eight years ago after Bob Durgin retired; he has since passed away. After my live audition, they called me back, and I have been doing the show full-time since September 2013

RH: What is your background in radio?

KM: Before I began hosting my talk show on 580 WHP, I did 25 years of morning radio in the contemporary hit format (CHR).

RH: How did your experience in the CHR format prepare you for your talk radio program?

KM: The good thing about the format is that you learn the basics probably better than any other format because it’s fast-paced, you have a limited amount of time to get your point out there, you must entertain, and when you go into those commercials you better make sure that people stick around.

RH: Describe the Harrisburg market and how its listeners engage with the talk radio format? 

KM: At WHP, we are bringing valuable information on a local level that people are not receiving in the market. Very few people in the market of Harrisburg dive deep into really important issues.

RH: How do you find the balance between catering to your local audience while addressing what is going on nationally and making it relevant to your Harrisburg listeners?

KM: Now more than ever, just in the last 18 months, we probably have more issues in common with the rest of the country, if not the world, right here in Central Pennsylvania. We have a fraudulent election that still hasn’t been clarified, and Pennsylvania is at the epicenter of it. The same thing with COVID. Our governor is one of five governors that really made some horrible decisions and locked down people, and destroyed businesses. It is rare when so many things nationally connect to you locally but being here in Harrisburg because we are in the Capitol, there’s so many connections there.

RH: How did you come onto Rush Limbaugh’s radar?

KM: I got my shot in the spring of 2017 after sending letters and tapes and going after people at the Premiere Radio Networks with snail mail and emails. I had the opportunity to fill in for Buck Sexton, who was going on vacation. I took my tape from Buck and I started to send that out to people, and before I knew it I was in a meeting with the head of Premiere Radio Network, who sent my stuff to Rush Limbaugh and James Golden.

RH: Did you have any type of relationship with Rush Limbaugh?

KM: I got to meet him in 2019, briefly after he got off the air. I was the only guest host that got to sit in that famous EIB chair and do a show. Rush invited me in. He was extremely gracious and thanked me for guest-hosting. 

RH: Did Premiere Networks ever approach you about replacing Rush Limbaugh full-time?

KM: I was never in that conservation, but I was very happy when they asked me to continue doing the show after he passed away. They asked several of us, including Todd [Herman] and Brett [Winterble] if we wanted to be on-air guides. It was a very interesting time, and I think the producers and the staff did an incredible job. That was a wonderful blessing and opportunity for me.

RH: Were you aware of who was going to replace Rush Limbaugh?

KM: No, I did not know. None of the guests hosts knew who was going to replace Rush. We were pummeled constantly by media people or friends. Premiere Radio Networks should teach the White House how to keep a secret. I knew the morning of the announcement when Craig Kitchen, President and COO of Premiere Networks called myself and the others involved and told us. It was a very positive transition.

RH: When you first heard that Clay Travis and Buck Sexton were going to replace Rush Limbaugh, your first thought was what?

KM: Who is Clay Travis because I wasn’t familiar with Clay. Obviously, I was familiar with Buck, and I figured that they would promote someone in the Premiere Networks family.

RH: How did it feel doing the final two Rush Limbaugh shows ever?

KM: It was bittersweet, but Rush was such a force that you couldn’t help but think that he was right there in the studio with you. The last of couple of shows felt very comfortable, and I did the show as if Rush and I were sitting there talking. When you fill-in for Rush you have a direct line to America.

RH: What did your time as one of Rush Limbaugh’s fill-in hosts to for the perception of you in the business?

KM: It certainly did not hurt it. Premiere Networks treats its talent very well. And for me personally, getting into that high-octane environment made me a better thinker, a better host. I had never worked with so many professional people in one location, it was amazing.

BNM Staff