iHeartMedia has appointed Jeff Wyatt as SVP/Programming for its Baltimore MD cluster.
Wyatt had been serving as VP/Programming for the company’s Virginia-Carolina region overseeing stations in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh NC, Greenville SC, and Harrisonburg, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke and Winchester VA. He also was Program Director for Country “96.9 The Kat” WKKT Statesville/Charlotte. In his new position, Wyatt will be Program Director of Country 93.1 WPOC and Variety Hits “102.7 Jack-FM” WQSR while overseeing CHR “Z104.3” WZFT and Gospel “Heaven 600” WCAO.
Along with the appointment of Wyatt, iHeart has announced that Tommy Chuck, Program Director of CHR “Hot 99.5” WIHT Washington DC and WPOC will add similar duties at AC 97.1 WASH-FM Washington while handing WPOC to Wyatt. Kenny King, who had been programming WASH and WQSR, exited earlier this week.
iHeartMedia announced today that Jeff Wyatt has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for Baltimore, MD, effective immediately. He will also serve as Program Director for 93.1 WPOC, Baltimore’s #1 for New Country, and 102.7 JACK-FM, Playing What We Want for Baltimore. iHeartMedia Baltimore has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises – both broadcast and digital – including 93.1 WPOC, Z104.3, 102.7 JACK-FM and Heaven 600 – and produces legendary marquee events including 93.1 WPOC’s Weekend in the Country.
iHeartMedia has massive consumer reach and influence across multiple platforms and delivers more live programming than any other media company, and Wyatt will be responsible for spearheading the programming, promotions and digital strategies for all four stations in the Baltimore market. As Program Director, Wyatt will also oversee the day-to-day programming operations of 93.1 WPOC and 102.7 JACK-FM.
“I am excited to have Jeff return to iHeartMedia’s Washington, D.C. Region and lead our four amazing brands in Baltimore,” said Jeff Kapugi, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Washington, D.C. Region. “He already knows the area extremely well and his experience in both programming and on-air is unmatched.”
Wyatt is a noted radio veteran with over thirty years of programming experience, most recently as Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Virginia-Carolina Region and Program Director for 96.9 The Kat in Charlotte, North Carolina. Early in his career, he worked as a Program Director and afternoon on-air personality at KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, California. He later was named Vice President of Programming for Emmis Broadcasting and held Program Director duties at Power 106 in Los Angeles. His background also includes serving as the Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Washington, D.C. Region and Program Director of 98.7 WMZQ in Washington, D.C.
“Although I will miss working with the incredibly talented team in iHeartMedia’s Virginia-Carolina Region, I’m thrilled for the opportunity to build on the success of our Baltimore stations,” Wyatt said. “I can’t wait to get started. It’s going to be fun!”
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iHeartMedia Washington, D.C. announced today that Tommy Chuck has been named Program Director for 97.1 WASH-FM, Washington’s Variety of the 80’s, 90’s and Today, effective immediately. iHeartMedia’s Washington, D.C. Region has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises – both broadcast and digital – including HOT 99.5, 97.1 WASH-FM, DC101, 98.7 WMZQ, BIG 100 and 104.7 Cherry Blossom Radio in Washington, D.C. and 93.1 WPOC, Z104.3, 102.7 JACK-FM and Heaven 600 in Baltimore– and produces legendary marquee events including the iHeartRadio HOT 99.5 Jingle Ball, WMZQ Fest, DC101’s Kerfuffle and WPOC’s Weekend in the Country.
iHeartMedia has massive consumer reach and influence across multiple platforms and delivers more live programming than any other media company. As Program Director, Chuck will work closely with on-air personalities and oversee 97.1 WASH-FM’s on-air programming, promotions, digital and social strategies. He will continue to Program HOT 99.5, DC’s #1 Hit Music Station.
“Tommy Chuck is a solid as they come,” said Jeff Kapugi, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Washington, D.C. Region. “I’ve worked with Tommy in some fashion since he got into this business and I’m thrilled to have him focused on such an important brand as WASH-FM in addition to the amazing things he has been doing on Hot 99.5.”
Tommy joined the iHeartMedia team in 2000 at WKXJ Chattanooga, TN. Since then he has programmed WQEN/Birmingham, AL, WXXL/Orlando, FL, and spent eight years as Program Director and Digital Director for WFLZ and WMTX in Tampa, FL. He spent the last two years programming HOT 99.5 and 93.1 WPOC in the Washington, D.C. Region.
“I am honored to now lead the two most listened to radio stations in Washington, D.C.,” said Chuck. “Like HOT 99.5, 97.1 WASH-FM is a blue-chip brand with an incredible history and even brighter future. Thanks to iHeartMedia for believing in me. Thanks to my family for supporting me. I am blessed to have this opportunity.”
I think by flipping 102.7 back to its heritage Urban format, 102.7’s ratings would jump and iHeartMedia could bring The Breakfast Club to the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market, even if iHeartMedia doesn’t revive the V103 branding and/or the WXYV calls.
The last time Baltimore had two Urbans, the ratings/revenue attrition between them was such that both of them were ready to flip formats at about the same time. (In the end it was 105.7 that flinched.) Bottom line, it’s not going to happen with 102.7.
I only thought of this in the wake of iHeartMedia dropping the Jack FM brand on its stations in Sacramento and Jacksonville.