Brandon Clay ’21 Lands On-Air Role with Powerhouse Boston Radio Station

Before coming to Curry College as a transfer student, Brandon Clay ’21 thought a “dream job” was just that - a dream.

He first learned about Curry from an advertisement he heard on iHeartRadio. But he never imagined that only 18 months after graduating with a communication degree from Curry, he’d be working for the very same company.

Just a year and a half after graduation, Clay has returned to his home state as the Afternoon Drive Host for iHeartRadio’s 101.7 The Bull. Since its official launch in 2011, the all-in-one audio service has grown to become the #1 streaming broadcast radio platform in the world.

In his new role, Clay fills the 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. slot with the best country music hits while making a personal connection with his audience during commercial breaks. When he’s not on the air for entertaining discussion, he’s behind the scenes working on endorsement deals for the station.

“To say that an alum—less than two years out of college—is now the afternoon drive host on one of Boston’s highest-rated radio stations—is an incredible and historic accomplishment,” said Communication professor Jerry Gibbs.

After a lukewarm first year at another college, Clay was certain that he wanted something more out of his education. When he transferred to Curry for his sophomore year, he quickly discovered his passions both in and out of the classroom, fueling an unforgettable undergraduate experience. It was here at Curry where he truly found his home.

Clay was involved with several extracurricular activities, including Student Government Association as Student Body Treasurer, and also served as the public address announcer for the Curry athletic teams.

But the number one passion he discovered during his Curry journey? Radio.

First appearing on air as a 2018 Mid-Term Election Co-Anchor for WMLN-FM, Clay worked his way up to Music Director and eventually served as Program Director, overseeing all programming for the student-run station. The College recently celebrated 90 years of broadcasting, as Clay joins the ranks of hundreds of successful alumni in the field.

With the help of concentrated coursework in the Communication program, Clay turned his passions into career goals, which were supported by his dedicated faculty. “The academic programming and extracurricular activities at Curry allowed me to have my own creative freedom on the radio and on campus,” he said. “Being taught by experienced and connected faculty allowed me to get an inside look at what the real world is like in the radio industry.”

"Brandon worked hard at WMLN, whether he was on-air or serving as our Program Director. I always knew he was headed for success in the business,"  said Communication assistant professor and Director of Radio Ken Carberry '80. "He was constantly trying to become a better Disc Jockey by asking for critiques of his shows, and we still chat often for feedback to this day. It gives me great joy to mentor our students even beyond graduation."

After graduation, Clay wasted no time making his mark in the radio industry and secured a job just two months later as a host for 101.9 WPOR out of Portland, Maine. Clay also carried out his passion for sports announcing and served as an in-arena Emcee for the Maine Celtics part time.

Now back in Boston with a powerhouse radio company, Clay couldn’t be happier. “I absolutely love my new job,” said Clay. “I’m back home in the state I’ve always known and loved, and I get to do my dream job every day. I hop on a microphone and hopefully get to brighten someone’s day on their drive home from work. Boston is a Top-10 market in the country for radio, and this couldn’t be any more rewarding of an opportunity.”

And while he’s back to his roots with his dream job, he’ll never forget how he got there.

“My Curry professors like Ken Carberry, Bob MacNeil, and Jerry Gibbs have turned into lifelong mentors for my career, and I would not be where I am without any of their constant support during and even after my college career,” he said. “I will forever cherish my time at Curry, not only because of the greatest friends, staff, and faculty on campus, but because of the overall friendly environment that Curry brings. The Curry community is truly a family and being able to say I’m an alum is such a great feeling.”