Many radio personalities earned national recognition Tuesday night. The 51st Annual Gracie Awards honored women making an impact across media.
What We Know: The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation held its annual gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Jodi Koontz, co-host of Murphy, Sam & Jodi on Premiere Networks, claimed her second Gracie Award. She previously won in 2023. FOX Sports Radio’s Carmen Vitali and former co-host Alex Curry were also honored for FOX Sports Saturday among 15 national radio winners recognized on the night.
What They Said: “Women’s stories don’t just reflect the world — they shape it, shift it, and refuse to let it stay the same,” said AWMF President Becky Brooks. “This year’s honorees are doing exactly that across every platform, every format, every audience.” Furthermore, Brooks added the foundation was “proud, moved, and honored” to recognize this year’s class of winners.
What Remains Unclear: Vitali was unable to attend the Los Angeles gala and has not announced alternate plans. However, a second celebration is coming. Local and student winners will be recognized at the Gracie Awards Luncheon on June 16 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Whether Vitali will attend that event to accept her award remains unknown.
What It Means: Gracie recognition carries significant weight in the radio industry. These awards reflect the excellence women bring to radio every day. And these wins further validate both properties as top-tier national programming. For Premiere and FOX Sports Radio, this moment reinforces their commitment to elevating women in broadcasting. Moreover, back-to-back recognition for Koontz signals she remains among the most respected voices in syndicated radio.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
