Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Northeast Arkansas is once again in the national spotlight.
Longtime 104.9 The Fox morning personalities Trey Stafford and Jim Frigo have been named finalists for the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards in the Small Market Personality of the Year category, one of radio broadcasting’s most prestigious honors.
Presented annually by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Marconi Radio Awards recognize the nation’s top radio stations and on-air personalities. Established in 1989 and named for radio pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the awards are widely considered the highest recognition in American radio.
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Stafford and Frigo are one of just five morning shows in the country nominated in the Small Market Personality category.
“This nomination is incredibly meaningful because it comes from the industry we love,” Stafford said. “Jim and I have been blessed to spend our careers serving Northeast Arkansas, and to have our work recognized on a national stage is both humbling and exciting.”
The Stafford and Frigo morning show has been a fixture on 104.9 The Fox (KDXY-FM) since September 1997, entertaining listeners with a blend of country music, local news, humor, interviews and community involvement. The duo has become one of the longest-running morning teams in Arkansas radio.
Stafford’s association with 104.9 The Fox dates back to Labor Day weekend of 1984, giving him more than four decades on the station and more than 55 years in broadcasting. In addition to hosting mornings, he serves as president and general manager of Jonesboro Media Group.
Frigo joined Stafford in 1997 after successful stops in several markets, and together they have become one of the most recognizable radio teams in the Mid-South.
Under their leadership, 104.9 The Fox has been Northeast Arkansas’ dominant country radio station for more than two decades, earning numerous state and national honors, including three Arkansas Country Radio Station of the Year awards.
The station is known for its commitment to local programming, charitable fundraising, severe weather coverage, community events, and supporting organizations throughout Northeast Arkansas.
This year’s Marconi nomination places Stafford and Frigo alongside some of America’s most accomplished broadcasters. The only other finalists from the immediate Mid-South region are Ron Olson and Karen Perrin of WRVR-FM in Memphis, who are nominated for Medium Market Personality of the Year.
For Stafford and Frigo, the nomination also reflects the entire Jonesboro Media Group team.
“Radio has always been about relationships,” Frigo said. “We’re fortunate to work with an incredible staff, talented teammates and loyal listeners who invite us into their mornings every day. This nomination belongs to all of them.”
The Marconi Radio Awards recognize excellence in stations, personalities, podcasts and broadcasters across the United States. Finalists are selected through a competitive nomination process, with winners chosen by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy.
The winners will be announced October 20 during the Marconi Radio Awards Dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, the evening before NAB Show New York begins.
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