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December 2, 2026
Listen in now as our guest, Dan Mason, discusses his book, FEARLESS: The Life and Times of a Media Maverick, sharing his rise from a teenage overnight DJ in Louisville to the top of CBS Radio and the leadership lessons he learned along the way.
From his humble beginnings growing up in Kentucky to the very top floor at CBS Radio, few people have had as much impact on the business of radio as Dan Mason.
“When I was just 14 years old, I took production notes about the radio jocks I listened to, and then created schedules to make the stations sound better. I moved the morning guy to afternoons, the PM drive guy to midday, and so on. Eventually, I sent my resume to several stations, and one actually reached out to meet with me. Of course, it was 100 miles away. I didn’t have a driver's license, but I knew early on that radio was my calling.”
In FEARLESS: The Life and Times of a Media Maverick, Mason recalls his rise from an overnight DJ at WKLO in Louisville to his two stints at CBS as President/CEO.
“This book is a roadmap of my many experiences in radio over the years,” said Mason. “From the time the legendary program director Johnny Randolph invited me to lunch after reading my critique of WAKY in Louisville when I was just a teenager, or having to deal with former legendary NFL linebacker Sam Huff in Houston after a KFMK promotion went south, or having to make a dreadful call to Don Imus. Anybody else have both Little Richard and country singer Dottie West ask them to go on tour?”
The book is chock-full of stories, anecdotes (the 30-day winner in radio rule is a result of WKLO PD Terrell Metheny instituting the rule because of Mason’s excessive prize wins), and insider moments with Mel Karmazin and Les Moonves. Mason also takes a deep dive into the corporate side of the business, the importance of teamwork, and his recommendations on leadership. The book also includes “Liner Notes” about the impact Mason has made in the industry.
Dan Mason is a legendary broadcasting executive and the former President and CEO of CBS Radio. He began his career in radio programming at age 14 from his bedroom and later shaped major stations like WPGC in Washington, D.C.. Learn more at https://www.danmasonbook.com/.
