The Man Behind the Mic: How I Built AJ McKay Creative

It is funny how fast 37 years can fly by when you are having a blast behind a microphone and a mixing console. People often ask me how I went from a kid playing with tape recorders to a career in radio and then on to producing award-winning demos and appearing in a Netflix series about wrestling. The truth is, it wasn’t a straight line. It was a series of pivots, late nights, and a constant refusal to stop evolving.

Looking at where AJ McKay Creative stands today, it is a global, full-service audio company. But the foundation of everything I do: whether it is voicing a commercial or mixing a high-end project or demo: comes from a lifelong obsession with sound.

Calling the Action: Netflix and Ohio Valley Wrestling

Right now, I am having a absolute blast in a role that feels like a full-circle moment for my performance career. Since January 2025, I have served as the Lead Play-By-Play Announcer for OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling). If you have caught the Netflix series Wrestlers, you have seen the grit, the passion, and the intensity of this world.

Being the voice that guides the audience through the drama in the ring is a unique challenge. It requires the same precision as a commercial read but with the raw energy of a live sporting event. It is a testament to the idea that as a voice artist, you should never stop expanding your range. Whether I am in the booth or at ringside, the goal is the same: tell a story that connects.

The Gold Standard: JMC Demos and the Voice Arts Awards

While the wrestling world is a current highlight, the backbone of my professional life for the last decade has been my partnership with JMC Demos. In 2016, I signed on as the Lead Audio Engineer and Producer for JMC, and it has been one of the most rewarding collaborations of my career.

Since we teamed up, I have managed to secure over 20 Voice Arts Awards from the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) and the entire JMC Demos team has won too many to even count. I still remember the thrill of 2016, winning for "Outstanding Narration Demo Reel." Holding that trophy wasn't just about the win; it was about the validation of years spent obsessing over sound design and the perfect edit. Today, I continue to engineer and produce demos that help talent break into the industry, balancing the technical side of the board with the creative side of the mic.

Living On Air: Collaborating with Joe Cipriano

Another major milestone that shaped the current state of AJ McKay Creative happened in 2014. I had the incredible opportunity to work with the legendary Joe Cipriano and his wife, Ann, on the audiobook version of Joe’s memoir, Living On Air.

Working as the audio mixer and sound designer for a titan of the industry like Joe was a masterclass in professional standards. It pushed me to elevate my engineering game to meet the expectations of someone who has voiced everything from FOX to CBS. That project reinforced my philosophy that high-end sound design isn’t just an "extra": it is the heartbeat of a professional production. You can read more about my approach to production on our about page.

The Birth of AJ McKay Creative

The brand you see today, AJ McKay Creative, officially began its journey in the 90's. At the time, I was working heavily in radio, but I saw a gap in the market for a dedicated production house that could handle both the voice and the technical engineering.

In the early 90s, the company was a local operation. I was doing radio imaging and local spots for businesses around Louisville. Over the years, that local focus shifted. As technology evolved: moving from reel-to-reel and DAT tapes to digital workstations: the business evolved too. We transitioned into a global entity, providing everything from automotive commercials to political spots.

Founding the company was the best decision I ever made because it allowed me to control the quality of the final product. I wasn't just a voice for hire; I was a partner in the creative process.

The Radio Years: Louisville to WABB-FM

Before I was a business owner, I was a radio guy through and through. My "formal" training came from the fast-paced world of FM radio. I spent years on-air in Louisville, honing my timing and learning how to engage an audience that could turn the dial at any second.

One of the most significant stops in my radio career was WABB-FM in Mobile, Alabama. If you know radio history, you know WABB was a legendary Top 40 station. Working there taught me how to deliver a high-energy performance and how to produce imaging that cut through the noise. From there, I moved into roles with Main Line Broadcasting, further refining my skills in both production and station imaging. Radio was the ultimate training ground for the TV promo and animation work I do today.

The 15-Year-Old with a Dream

If we go all the way back to the beginning, you would find a 15-year-old kid in a bedroom studio that smelled like ozone and old electronics. I didn't have fancy pre-amps or high-end condenser mics. I had a reel-to-reel machine, more Radio Shack gear than one should ever own, and a burning desire to hear my voice on the airwaves.

I used to spend hours creating "homemade" radio programs, complete with fake commercials and transitions. I was my own DJ, my own guest, and my own engineer. That bedroom studio was where I learned the fundamentals of sound: how to layer tracks, how to time a voiceover to music, and how to fix mistakes on the fly.

My first "real" break came shortly after, landing a gig at a local AM country station while I was still a teenager. I was probably the only kid in high school who spent his weekends playing George Jones records and reading farm reports. It wasn't glamorous, but it was the start of everything. It gave me the confidence to walk into a booth and know that I belonged there.

The Philosophy of Evolution

If 37 years in this industry have taught me anything, it is that you cannot afford to stand still. The tools change, the styles change, and the platforms change. We went from reel-to-reel to CD to mp3 to Source-Connect and ipDTL in the blink of an eye.

My philosophy has always been to balance the "two sides" of the coin: being a voice actor and being a high-end engineer. Some people choose one, but I’ve always found that understanding the technical side makes me a better performer, and being a performer makes me a better producer.

Whether I’m working on a videogame project or a live announce VOG gig, I bring those 37 years of experience to the table. It has been a wild ride from that bedroom studio to the Voice Arts stage and the OVW ring, and I’m just getting started.

If you’re looking for a partner for your next project, or just want to chat about the industry, feel free to reach out to us. I’m always looking for the next great story to tell.