Sam Alex hosts the nationally syndicated Chicago-based “The Sam Alex Show.” Alex went out on his own with the show after five and a half years of hosting “Taste of Country Nights” for Townsquare Media.
In addition to the show, Alex is the Founder and Director of Camp Broadcast. He has appeared as himself in an episode of ABC-TV’s “Nashville” and has been a guest announcer at the Grand Ole Opry.
“The Sam Alex Show” is available for any daypart and provides content while allowing affiliates to program their own music.
“I’ve learned over the years that programmers like having control of their playlists,” said Alex. “That’s why the breaks for my show are content-only. I’m not back or front selling the song, just giving good content with Country music news, pop culture news, birthday anniversary, shout outs and messages I get on my verified Instagram page and so on.”
Alex is very hands-on with affiliates and believes that constant communication is essential.
“I get people are busy, but with that said, the stations where we really do well with “The Sam Alex Show” are the ones I’m in constant communication with. They’re giving me local liners or local breaks to talk about. The local events happening, giveaways, the high school football, high school baseball games, basketball games, and then all the new music and having me do local breaks as well.”
During his “Taste of Country Nights” time, Alex was based in Nashville from a Music Row studio. But in the back of his mind, he wanted to move back home to Chicago and make the leap to being his own boss.
“I always knew I wanted to move back home and raise my kids with my family, by my parents, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and childhood friends. Then, talking with my musician friends, they reminded me that even though they were signed to Warner or Big Loud or whatever record label, they’re not the boss. The musicians are entrepreneurs; they’re their own boss.”
“They reminded me, Sam, you’re in control of your destiny. Eventually, you should start up your own thing so you can call the shots and make your own schedule. Host the show from where you want, from the award shows, festivals and local stations that you want to be active at and so on. I always knew I wanted to do that.”
Alex is pretty much a one-man band when it comes to all aspects of the show.
“I’m not represented by a big company or on the major companies. I’ve always had the attitude of being the underdog. I’ve always loved treating people the same, whether they were a brand-new artist or someone with 29 hits on a major label.”
In addition to all his other responsibilities, Alex is the Founder and Director of Camp Broadcast, which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Camp Broadcast started when COVID happened, because I felt so bad that so many in-person summer camps were canceled for campers and college students to be counselors. I was a camper and a counselor when I was younger. And then markets of all sizes and radio weren’t hiring because of COVID. That’s when I had the idea, and it was like eight one-week classes that first summer, all on Zoom because of COVID.”
“The cool thing was we had students from around the country and the world who were mostly likely recent high school grads majoring in broadcasting or wanted to work in radio or TV. Also, college students and some recent grads, too. Then, the coolest thing was that we had a different celebrity guest every day, and the students got to interview on our virtual red carpets. And every day, they have a different expert guest speaker.”
“It’s kind of like an internship on steroids. The TODAY Show and Good Morning America both have done a six-minute-long feature on the camp, which is amazing. All the media outlets in Chicago, the TV and radio stations, are big-time supporters, and the Illinois Broadcasters Association is one of our title sponsors. It has been very rewarding.”
Camp Broadcast students and alumni produce an annual guitar pull called “Hoosier Country Jam,” which is held every spring in Bloomington, Indiana. Previous artists include Collin Raye, Darryl Worley, Michael Ray, Mason Ramsey, Drew Baldridge & many more. Students get to interview the artists and be the emcees for the concert.
Hosting the show and other high-profile events has led to some bucket list-type events, including guest announcing at The Grand Ole Opry.
“The first time I debuted as a guest announcer on the Opry, I was just hanging backstage. I had my own dressing room and my childhood best friend with me, who doesn’t work in the industry but lives in New York.”
“I’ve been taking him to music festivals, so I’ve converted him. He’s a huge country music fan now, but didn’t know much before. I’d go to the other dressing room with Vince Gill and Trace Adkins and hang out. And then I got to introduce Trace. He was walking on stage, shaking my hand, giving me the wink. That was the second moment in my career where I felt like I made it.”
Alex comes from a family of math teachers, and while he says he is not good with math, teaching was his backup plan, which led to Alex teaching and paying it forward.
“I originally majored in education, in special education, which was always the backup plan. Even though you’re always show-prepping, working 24/7, I was doing mornings and done at noon, I would volunteer at different schools, or I would help out at the after-school programs. I coached middle school wrestling for a couple of years. I was always involved in the schools and just loved paying it forward.”
Alex has been a:
2023 – CMA Broadcast Awards Finalist for Daily National Broadcast Personality of the Year.
2022 – CMA Broadcast Awards Finalist for Daily National Broadcast Personality of the Year.
2016 – ACM Broadcast Awards Finalist for National On-Air Personality of the Year.
To learn more about “The Sam Alex Show” or Camp Broadcast, contact Sam Alex here.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
