This Week in Radio Tech is on location for episode 806 at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa in Opelika, Alabama, where the Alabama Broadcasters Association is celebrating its 80th anniversary with one of several regional receptions around the state.
This episode brings together three conversations that say a lot about where broadcasting has been, where it is now, and where it may be headed. First, we visit with Terry Harper, the ABA’s 2026 Engineer of the Year. Terry’s broadcast career reaches back nearly six decades, beginning in 1967 at WABT in Tuskegee, continuing through years of engineering work at Auburn University, and then into decades of contract engineering service for Alabama broadcasters.
We also talk with Lee Perryman, owner of RadioAlabama, about the practical use of artificial intelligence in local radio. Lee is not just speculating about AI; he is putting generative AI and curated synthetic voice tools to work in real station operations, including story writing, announcements, commercial production, and other content workflows — while keeping a broadcaster’s judgment in the process.
And we spend a few minutes with Sharon Tinsley, president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association, about the significance of honoring Terry Harper, the value of broadcast engineering to local stations, and the ABA’s decision to take its 80th anniversary celebration on the road to broadcasters across Alabama.
It’s a field trip episode, a celebration episode, and a forward-looking conversation all in one. Join us from Opelika, Alabama, for episode 806 of This Week in Radio Tech.
Show notes:
- ABA Names Terry Harper Its 2026 Engineer of the Year from Radio World
- The ABA Anniversary Reception Tour is ongoing: Here’s the schedule
Guests
Terry Harper – 2026 Alabama Engineer of the Year
Lee Perryman – President & CEO at RadioAlabama
Sharon Tinsley – President at Alabama Broadcasters Association
Host
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting
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