Running a radio station, hosting a nationally syndicated show, and anchoring a nightly television program would overwhelm most media professionals. Todd Starnes isn’t most media professionals.
The Memphis-based broadcaster juggles ownership of The Mighty 990 KWAM, a daily hour on Newsmax, and The Todd Starnes Show — all without losing a step.
The question everyone wants answered is simple: how does he pull it off?
The honest answer starts with learning to let go.
“That’s been a big challenge for me because I like to try to do everything, and I can’t,” said Starnes. “One of the first things I had to address was micromanaging. I had to learn that you hire people because they’re experts, so let them do their jobs and get out of the way. That was difficult, but I’ve reached the point where I can do that. What’s fascinating is that we keep growing.”
Growth has been a constant theme at KWAM since Starnes acquired the station six years ago. He arrived with a vision centered on community — and a digital strategy that turned out to be ahead of its time.
“When I bought KWAM six years ago, it was important to have a radio station focused on the community,” Starnes said. “I think we still do that, especially with our digital platforms, which are among the largest in the city and the Mid-South. When you look at engagement on our Facebook and Twitter pages, that’s where people continue the conversations. We realized that right away.”
That digital instinct has paid off. KWAM now counts more than 42,000 social media followers — a number that didn’t exist when Starnes first took over. He also launched the Stop Memphis Crime group, which has grown to roughly 17,000 members and helped bring real-world attention to public safety concerns in the region. Still, it’s the radio side that remains close to his heart, and KWAM’s local identity sets it apart from corporate competitors.
“One of the great things about us is that we are locally owned,” the KWAM owner stated. “I am the owner, so when a business owner has a question about an advertisement or needs a special deal, they come directly to me. We don’t have to call New York City or Nashville. That’s important for us. We’ve had great success. One of the biggest things we’ve seen is an explosion in advertising.”
That local advantage has proven durable even when larger groups have tried to move in. Starnes didn’t shy away from acknowledging the competition — or his confidence in KWAM’s staying power.
“The big corporate groups have come after us, which surprised me,” he said. “I think they see us as a threat. In one case, a station tried to undercut our advertising sales. But we haven’t lost a single sponsor. That’s because we believe in loyalty and taking care of our local customers.”
Managing all of it — the station, the social platforms, the national syndication, and the television work — eventually forced Starnes to make a tough personal call. He stepped away from hosting the morning show at KWAM, a decision driven not by choice but by necessity.
“It’s a lot to manage. That’s one of the reasons I had to give up the morning show,” The Todd Starnes Show host shared. “I was doing three hours of radio, managing the local station, overseeing a large digital platform, and hosting a one-hour national Newsmax TV show every weekday. There’s a lot going on. But we have an incredible team of about 14 people who work very hard.”
Despite the demanding schedule, Starnes keeps the tone of his work grounded in something he clearly believes matters most — fun. The Todd Starnes Show leans into the unexpected, and he thinks that unpredictability is part of the magic.
“There’s great synergy between the two shows. On the national show, we try to add humor and offbeat content,” commented Starnes. “One minute we’re talking about the White House Correspondents’ Association, the next minute we’re talking about meatball recipes. It sounds like it wouldn’t work, but it does. We had full phone lines with people calling in about the proper way to make a meatball. Someone was listening from the Memphis Italian Festival, and I was made an honorary judge of the gravy contest. That’s what radio should be about — fun, community, and entertainment.”
That spirit of community extends to KWAM’s local programming as well. Starnes takes obvious pride in the touches that make the station feel distinctly Memphis, from the weekend lineup to a signature sound at the top of every hour.
“When you listen to KWAM, at the top of the hour we play a steamboat whistle as an homage to our roots as a Mississippi River town,” said Starnes. “We have a lot of local programming on the weekends. Our garden show is one of the most popular programs aside from the national shows. It has three hosts, and the calls light up at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. Those are the kinds of things we do.”
KWAM has also served as a training ground, launching careers across journalism, politics, and public relations. Starnes stays connected with former team members — and watches their success with something resembling a proud mentor’s satisfaction.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding,” the KWAM owner stated. “One of the great things is staying in touch with everyone. Grace Baker is now a publicist for a book house. Now she’s pitching guests for not only KWAM but the Todd Starnes national show. It’s been fun to see everyone jump out of the nest and become successful in their new careers.”
Six years in, Starnes isn’t slowing down. He’s built something rare in today’s radio landscape — a locally owned station with national reach, a loyal advertiser base, and a growing digital footprint. And somehow, it still doesn’t feel like work.
“We try to convey that KWAM is a big front porch where people can come and be part of the conversation,” Starnes said. “It’s been tough, but I’ve owned the station for six years now, and it doesn’t feel that long.”
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
