Cleveland, Ohio, lies in the heart of the country, built on American manufacturing. It’s a modern-era community filled with commerce, created off the backs of the blue-collar people who called “The Land” their home. A Midwest mentality of treating others as you would want to be treated, working hard for your family, and embracing your neighbor builds community. For a decade, Ken Carman has represented the people of Ohio by hosting morning drive radio on Audacy’s 92.3 The Fan.
“Cleveland is a traditional city. It’s also a very loyal city,” remarked Carman. “I want to do a good job to do right by my family. You want to be successful, of course, but I also feel a responsibility to my managers’ families as well.”
Carman is a native of Ohio who found his passion for radio at a very young age. A graduate of the University of Akron, he worked his way up through play-by-play and reporting work to earn a weeknight hosting role on The Fan in 2011. Less than four years later, at the age of 29. Carman was elevated to morning drive on the station and has never looked back.
“I think that some of us lose what made us get the spot in the first place,” said Carman. “I think a lot of guys who listened to me at night ended up staying with me. We’ve grown up together, and it’s helped me stay involved with the community.”
Leaning on his Ohio roots and Midwestern background, Carman believes in the importance of understanding your audience. While being a host on The Fan provides much access that the normal Cleveland sports fan may not have. It’s not lost on him during his weekday morning show that he is a vessel for connection to the teams themselves.
“This is a conversation. This isn’t a talking to. We all have confidence in our opinions, but this is a shared experience. This isn’t some lecture in a hall,” said Carman. “I’m big on the relationship you have with your listeners and humility as best you can. I always remind myself that this could all be taken away from me one way or another.”
Finding Chemistry With Anthony Lima
For the last nine years in morning drive, Carman has worked alongside Anthony Lima. Who earned the position after serving as an update anchor and weekend host on The Fan for several years. Carman considers Lima the morning show’s third producer. Always having a pulse for the city and what listeners talk about while knowing how to maneuver Carman as a tandem to elevate their game.
“There’s a lot of guys who love sports, and so they debate it. Lima loves to debate, and he happens to like sports,” noted Carman. “That makes him a very difficult person to be on the air with.”
Carman described the relationship between the two as one that never holds a grudge. While there are many insults thrown at one another on the air, with jokes about relationships and challenges made, he says he couldn’t imagine a better setup for mornings in Cleveland.
“He’s always just understood it’s the show. It’s tough because he’s one in a million,” explained Carman. “I don’t know if I could do the show as the show and be as comfortable with anyone else.”
The Importance of Being Coachable
With the success of the program leading to the tandem’s longevity with the station, the early beginnings of the program were rough. The show was formed by former program director Andy Roth, who now serves as the brand manager at 680 The Fan in Atlanta. Carman discussed those early days as difficult but credited Roth’s leadership and guidance for getting the program to where it is today.
“Andy Roth, along with Dave Popovich [former Audacy VP of Programming], those guys saved us from ourselves. We thought we knew the answers in the beginning,” explained Carman. “Cleveland is a traditional city; we find things we like and stick with them. We’re traditional Midwest people, and we had to earn their trust. Andy did everything he could, and it was a daily grind.”
Carman referenced constant coaching from his management team and remained steadfast in receiving and executing the lessons being taught.
“This is bigger than me. When I go out there, I am representing my station and our sponsors. When I go on the air, I’m representing the city,” said Carman. “We’re not goofing around here. This is a very serious thing. Cleveland has a very serious history with radio and entertainment. I was glad that they were so hard on us so early because it made us so much better and more respectful of what we do.”
Following that guidance early in his career, Carman understands that he’s not perfect. That understanding guides him in how he addresses the success of the local teams in Cleveland, a town that hasn’t seen a Super Bowl victory ever and a World Series championship since the Truman administration.
A Critical Voice of Your Partners
92.3 The Fan serves as the local radio flagship of the Cleveland Browns, a team with two winning seasons during Carman’s tenure hosting morning drive. While he admits that it’s impossible not to say something you want to take back, Carman says he never calls for firings and tries not to say things on the air that he wouldn’t say to someone’s face.
“We do talk a lot about the Browns. They make it really easy. They’ve had some struggles since 1999, and I’ve been meaner toward the Browns than the other two professional teams combined,” remarked Carman. “They’ve never said anything in my general direction, and I can’t think of anyone else’s direction that they’ve had a problem with.”
The goal is to never get personal with coaches or players of any team in town, out of respect for the job they perform. Although he’s been mistaken for saying something that other hosts in the city have said, Carman takes the role seriously, holding the team accountable out of respect for their fanbase.
“I think a lot of guys who do what we do have given us a bad name. They don’t go to practice or games, and don’t try to go into the locker room and understand people. They just rip them to say nasty things and get a reaction,” noted Carman. “I want what’s best for the teams. I don’t want them to lose. But when they lose, we have to talk about it, and it’s not always a rosy thing. They respect that.”
Reaching New Audience
Recently, 92.3 The Fan began streaming The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima on YouTube, providing listeners with another opportunity to catch the program live and get a peek behind the curtain. Carman noted he wanted the video feed for some time but is appreciative for the opportunity to have it, despite the possibility it could affect ratings credit.
“I’m a radio guy. I defend radio. But I can’t deny the reach and the fun that we get from people watching on YouTube,” said Carman. “There’s a downside to everything, a drawback, and nothing’s perfect, or everyone would do it. If anyone’s hesitant about doing it, I think they’re going to be left behind. This is part of the future of what our business is all about.”
The live video feed has expanded the 92.3 The Fan brand to a new digital audience that prefers video over audio. With this new way to consume the show, Carman has been amazed by the feedback from viewers who believe the reactions on the program are staged. In response, Carman believes the video feed allows the listener to see another side of the show.
“I love it because it provides authenticity. This is real,” said Carman. “Now that you can see video, you know I mean what I’m saying. I think it brings people more into the show because of our strong personalities.”
Always Remaining Humble
Still in his late 30s, Carman has accumulated a lifetime of experiences during his tenure at 92.3 The Fan. In between breaking down the latest headlines with the Browns or Guardians, he spends just as much time showcasing local high school football products around the Cleveland area. He considers it an honor that local communities welcome him with open arms and a desire to showcase the best of what their part of the city provides.
“Cleveland is a big, small town. It’s a big city with a small-town feel. It seems like everyone knows each other and everyone knows who you are,” said Carman. “A lot of what we do is word of mouth, and high school football helps that so much.”
As he continues to count the days until his 40th birthday, this self-proclaimed “radio nerd” feels more confident about the sports radio industry today than a couple of years ago. There was a time early in his career when he nearly lost all hope for a future in radio, but through it all, Ken Carman leans on connection to guide him in mornings on 92.3 The Fan.
“I understand that companies and industries need to go through pivots. It’s not lost on me that this is a performance business,” said Carman. “It’s still the same business it’s always been. If you can connect with people, you’ll stay.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
Ken is a joy to listen to. I’ve been a fan of his since 2011 when 92.3 became a sports format station. Sometimes people joke about his persona as a, “man of the people”. I’ve met him several times and I hear him all the time, and in this case, it’s true. A total class act as well.