CBS Radio has hired Greg Solk as Operations Manager and Program Director of AAA 93.1 WXRT and Classic Hits “104.3 K-Hits” WJMK Chicago.
Solk most recently was Senior VP of Programming for Hubbard Radio until his exit last March. He had joined Hubbard with its acquisition of multiple markets from Bonneville in 2011. Outside of two years as PD of AAA 104.5 KFOG San Francisco in the early 1990s, Solk’s entire career has been spent in Chicago where he started as an intern at 97.9 WLUP and eventually served as VP/Programming of that station and was was instrumental in launching “97.1 The Drive” WDRV in 2001.
Solk fills the position at WXRT that had been vacant since the retirement of Norm Winer in early 2016. Todd Cavanagh gave up day-to-day programming of WJMK last month when he added those duties at Country “US 99.5” WUSN last month.
CBS Radio Chicago has appointed Greg Solk to the position of Program Director and Operations Manager for Triple A WXRT (93XRT) and Classic Hits station WJMK (KHits). Solk joins the Chicago team with a goal of building loyalty among KHits’ engaged adult listeners while also spearheading a new era of growth at XRT, one of Chicago’s most respected radio brands.
“Greg grew up listening to XRT as a teenager and spent decades programming against it. This is an unbelievable opportunity for us to have not only a true fan of XRT but a strategic thinker to make XRT the number one rock choice in Chicago,” said Todd Cavanah, CBS Radio Chicago VP/Programming. “His deep knowledge of music’s past, present and future will keep XRT evolving forward by remembering the heritage of this unique Chicago brand. For KHits, Greg brings tremendous knowledge to the Classic Hits format and we welcome him as a partner on our programming team.”
“I have been blessed in my career to work for some amazing stations in my hometown, but this opportunity is off the charts,” said Solk. “Everyone knows there is no station or staff anywhere in the world that can rival the 45-year heritage of WXRT — ‘Chicago’s Finest Rock.’ I am humbled to be a part of its brilliant legacy.
“To be asked to also take the reins of KHits makes this the most exciting move I can imagine. I can’t wait to join the great team of professionals at CBS Radio. I am honored by the confidence Tim Pohlman, Todd Cavanah and Chris Oliviero have placed in me.”
Solk, a 30-year radio programming veteran and Chicagoland native, began his career as a 15-year-old intern at WLUP Chicago in 1977. Most recently, he was SVP/Programming at Hubbard Radio overseeing seven markets including Chicago, Washington DC, Phoenix, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis and Cincinnati. His lengthy radio experience includes programming and building iconic Chicago radio brands including The Loop (WLUP), The Drive (WDRV), The Mix (WTMX), and KFOG-FM in San Francisco.
