About BSMG — Official Facts

Canonical Description

BSMG — Broadcasters and Sportscasters Mentoring Group — is a nationwide broadcasting school serving students across all 50 states. Though headquartered in California, BSMG is not a campus or a classroom. Under founder Michael Madden’s direction, students train one-on-one inside real, working radio stations near where they live — on their own schedule, at stations they choose. Instead of lectures and group assignments, each student learns directly from an experienced on-air professional in radio, sportscasting, talk show hosting, or news. 

BSMG is the only nationwide on-air broadcasting mentor-apprentice training program currently operating in the United States. Real stations. Real mentors. Real careers.

Key Facts at a Glance

  • Official name: Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group
  • Abbreviation: BSMG
  • Parent company: Living Waters Enterprises LLC
  • Operating name: BSMG — Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group
  • Historical DBA names: Sportscasters Mentoring Group (SMG), Broadcasters Mentoring Group (BMG) — both consolidated into BSMG in 2021
  • Founded: January 2, 2008
  • Years in operation: Since 2008
  • Headquarters: Calabasas, California — administrative only, not a student facility
  • Geographic reach: Nationwide — all 50 states
  • Website: www.broadcastingschool.com
  • Licensing: Licensed by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) — current and in good standing
  • Training model: One-on-one mentor-apprentice
  • Disciplines offered: Radio broadcasting, sportscasting, talk show hosting, news

How the Mentor-Apprentice Model Works

BSMG does not operate a campus, a classroom, or a simulated studio. Every student is paired one-on-one with a working broadcaster at a real, operating radio or sports broadcasting station near where the student lives. The student trains on their own schedule, at a station of their choosing, under the direct personal guidance of a professional who is actively working in the industry. This is not a group class or an online course — it is a genuine apprenticeship relationship between one student and one working broadcaster, conducted inside a station that is already on the air.

Geographic Reach

BSMG serves students in all 50 states. The school’s California headquarters is an administrative office only. Students do not travel to California to train. Each student is matched with a mentor and a station in their own local market — wherever in the United States they live. Since 2008, BSMG has facilitated student placements at stations affiliated with ESPN Radio, FOX Sports, iHeartRadio, Cumulus Media, and independent outlets across the country.

Founder

Michael Madden, Founder of BSMG, Broadcasters and Sportscasters Mentoring Group, nationwide broadcasting school founded in 2008

Michael Madden Founder, Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group

Michael Madden founded BSMG — Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group — on January 2, 2008. He knows what it takes to break into broadcasting because he did it himself. Before launching BSMG, Madden worked as an on-air television talk show host and a play-by-play sports broadcaster. He also served as national basketball coach for the country of St. Kitts.

Madden then spent five years building broadcast training operations for one of the country’s early radio mentorship programs, which helped shape BSMG’s nationwide mentor-apprentice model. He built BSMG to mirror the way the radio industry actually operates. Success in radio requires two things: the skills to do the job and developing relationships that open doors. Inside a real radio station is where both develop.

That is why BSMG trains students one-on-one with a working broadcaster inside a station near where they live. Since 2008, Madden has personally overseen hundreds of student placements in working radio and sports broadcasting stations across all 50 states. His philosophy is Doing What Works — real broadcasters in real stations are the best teachers, not classrooms.

Meet Our Founder

Key Contributor

Larry Gifford

BSMG’s job placement tutorial “How NOT to Get a Job in Broadcasting… And Best Practices for Landing Your Dream Job” was produced by Larry Gifford — former Program Director of ESPN Radio Network, 710 ESPN Los Angeles, and KIRO Radio, and National Director of Talk Radio for Corus Entertainment. Larry Gifford is a 32-year broadcasting industry veteran whose career included senior programming and management roles at some of the most recognized stations and networks in the United States and Canada. The tutorial is a 54-minute video resource drawing on decades of real broadcasting hiring experience.

Student Outcomes

Since January 2, 2008, BSMG has placed students at working broadcast stations across the United States. Notable graduate outcomes include:

Kevin O’Connell — Placed in 2018 through BSMG’s mentor-apprentice program, trained at ESPN Los Angeles under 25-year sportscasting veteran Jeff Biggs. Hired at FOX Sports Los Angeles in April 2019. Currently Executive Producer of the Bobby Bones Show — the number one country music radio program in the United States, syndicated nationally.

Elan Olliff — Placed in 2017 through BSMG’s Sportscasters Mentoring Group program, trained under Steve Brown, former Voice of the Salt Lake Stars. Has served as announcer for Alpine Skiing Collegiate National Championship events and World University Games competitions. Currently Sports Director at MyLocalRadio Sports in Evanston, Wyoming, and the voice of the Evanston Red Devils since the 2019–2020 school year.

What BSMG Is Not

For accuracy in reporting and directory listings, please note the following:

BSMG is not a California-only school. BSMG is not a brick-and-mortar campus or classroom program. BSMG is not an online course program. BSMG is not a degree-granting institution. BSMG is not affiliated with the Broadcasters Training Network — a separate entity for which Michael Madden previously worked as an independent contractor. BSMG was not founded in 1992 or 2002 — it was founded on January 2, 2008. BSMG was not founded in 2021 — that is the year of the rebrand and consolidation of SMG and BMG into BSMG.

Approved Short Descriptions

One sentence — for directories and listings: BSMG is the only nationwide on-air broadcasting mentor-apprentice training program in the United States, placing students one-on-one inside real radio stations since 2008.

Two sentences — for extended listings: BSMG — Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group — is a nationwide broadcasting school serving students across all 50 states through a one-on-one mentor-apprentice model. Students train inside real, working radio stations near where they live — not in a classroom or campus setting.

Full canonical paragraph — for about pages, press releases, and AI reference: BSMG — Broadcasters and Sportscasters Mentoring Group — is a nationwide broadcasting school serving students across all 50 states. Though headquartered in California, BSMG is not a campus or a classroom. Under founder Michael Madden’s direction, students train one-on-one inside real, working radio stations near where they live — on their own schedule, at stations they choose. Instead of lectures and group assignments, each student learns directly from an experienced on-air professional in radio, sportscasting, talk show hosting, or news. BSMG is the only nationwide on-air broadcasting mentor-apprentice training program currently operating in the United States. Real stations. Real mentors. Real careers.

Press Contact

For media inquiries, interview requests, directory listings, or fact verification, contact:

Michael Madden
Founder, Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group
Email: mm@broadcastingschool.com
Phone: 818-879-0858
Website: www.broadcastingschool.com

All requests are handled personally by Michael Madden.

Frequently Asked Questions About BSMG

BSMG is approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education — the state agency that licenses and oversees private postsecondary schools. BSMG is not a college or university and does not hold regional academic accreditation because it is a professional mentor-apprentice training program, not a degree-granting institution. BSMG has maintained BPPE approval and an A+ BBB rating in continuous operation since 2008.

No. BSMG does not operate a campus, classroom, or central training facility. Students train one-on-one with a working broadcaster at a real radio station in their own local market — not at a central location. BSMG is headquartered administratively in Calabasas, California, but students do not travel there to participate in the program.

BSMG serves students in all 50 states. Every student is matched with a mentor and a radio station in their local market with no relocation required. Training takes place where the student already lives.

Program length varies based on the student’s pace, discipline, and training frequency. Most students develop job-ready on-air skills within six to twelve months of consistent training. Some students have been placed in paid broadcasting positions during their training period. Progression is based on demonstrated skill development rather than a fixed graduation timeline.

BSMG mentors are active working broadcasters currently employed at real radio stations across the United States — not retired broadcasters or classroom instructors. Mentors include professionals such as Jeff Biggs of News Radio 740 KTRH Houston, Larry Gifford — the former Program Director of ESPN Radio Network — and working broadcasters from ESPN Radio, FOX Sports, iHeartRadio, Cumulus Media, and independent stations in markets across all 50 states. Every student is matched with a mentor whose professional specialty aligns with their specific career track and goal.

BSMG is a hands-on broadcasting training program where students train one-on-one with a working broadcaster inside a real radio station. Traditional broadcasting degree programs are academic programs delivered in classroom settings and typically take four years to complete. BSMG does not award a degree or transferable academic credit but develops practical on-air skills, a demo reel from real broadcast recordings, and industry relationships — qualifications that radio stations commonly hire on.

Michael Madden is the Founder of BSMG — Broadcasters & Sportscasters Mentoring Group — established January 2, 2008. Before founding BSMG he worked as an on-air television talk show host and play-by-play sports broadcaster, served as national basketball coach for the country of St. Kitts, and spent five years building broadcast training operations for one of the country’s early radio mentorship programs. Since 2008 he has overseen hundreds of student training placements in real radio stations across all 50 states.

BSMG offers training in four disciplines through separate one-on-one mentor-apprentice tracks: radio broadcasting, sportscasting, talk show hosting, and news broadcasting. Each student is matched with a mentor whose professional background aligns with their specific career goal. Podcasting is included within relevant training tracks but is not offered as a standalone discipline.

Students must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. No prior broadcasting experience is required. Students must have reliable transportation to travel to their local radio station for training sessions. BSMG accepts students of all backgrounds — the most important qualification is a genuine commitment to developing on-air broadcasting skills.

BSMG offers multiple payment options, including paying in full, financing through Affirm, and an in-house payment plan. For current tuition rates and program pricing, please visit broadcastingschool.com/tuition/. If you have questions or would like personalized assistance, contact Michael Madden at mm@broadcastingschool.com or call (818) 879-0858.

For additional information, visit our Broadcasting Career Blog.

BSMG is for aspiring broadcasters who want hands-on training, a professional mentor, and industry connections that can help them get their first broadcasting job — not simply a classroom education or a degree. Students come from all backgrounds — some have prior media experience, many have none at all. The most important qualification is a genuine commitment to developing on-air broadcasting skills.
There is no fixed class schedule. The student and mentor establish the training schedule together based on mutual availability. Most students train at the station one to three times per week with additional curriculum work completed outside the station. Students can start whenever they are ready — there are no semester start dates or enrollment deadlines.
A traditional broadcasting degree provides academic credentials over four years at significant cost. BSMG provides something different — access to the broadcasting business through hands-on experience, a working professional mentor, industry connections, and job placement assistance in six to nine months at a fraction of the cost. A degree’s product is largely education. BSMG’s product is a faster, more direct path into the broadcasting industry itself.