Greater Media (soon to be Beasley) Classic Hip-Hop “105.1 The Bounce” WMGC Detroit has named Al Payne as its first Program Director.

Payne comes to Detroit from Louisville where he spent the last five months as Director of Urban Programming for Alpha Media. He has also served as Operations Manager of Radio-One Baltimore and VP/Operations for the Russ Parr Morning Show. It is a return to the Detroit market for Payne as he also served as OM/PD of Radio-One’s “Hot 102.7” WHTD and “Kiss 105.9” WDMK in 2007/2008.

WMGC made history be debuting in first place with an 8.0 share in its first full PPM monthly up from 0.7 in its final full month as “Detroit Sports 105.1“.

Greater Media announces Al Payne has been named as the new program director at 105.1 The BOUNCE/Detroit’s Throwback Hip Hop and R&B station. He will officially begin his new position on Monday, September 19, 2016.

Payne most recently served as the Director of Urban Programming at Alpha Media’s WGHL, WGZB and WMJM in Louisville, KY. Previous to that, he worked as the Operations Manager of Radio One’s WERQ, WWIN, WOLB and WLIF-HD2 in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, the radio veteran was the Program Director/Operations VP of the Russ Parr Morning Show and worked in a programming capacity for stations in Detroit, Richmond, Dallas, Greensboro and Raleigh Durham.

“We are thrilled to welcome Al as the new program director at 105.1 THE BOUNCE in the Motor City,” said Steve Chessare, Vice President and Market Manager of Greater Media Detroit.” His experience and vision is exactly what we need to take the station to the next level and beyond.”
“We are excited to have Al Payne join our new Detroit brand 105.1 THE BOUNCE,” said Greater Media Senior Vice President of Program Development Buzz Knight. “Having someone of his caliber join our already strong team sends a signal to the market of our commitment to excellence.”

“I am so blessed and happy to be returning to the D for another run,” said Payne. “This city has so much pride, heritage and passion! I’m humbled to be chosen to program their dynamic new brand, 105.1 THE BOUNCE, which is and will remain all about everything Detroit. You can feel the energy when you walk into their beautiful facility. There’s something SPECIAL happening between those walls. I can’t wait! Thanks to Buzz Knight, Steve Chessare and ALL of the Greater Media family for this incredible opportunity.”

WMGC-FM is owned by Greater Boston Radio, Inc., a subsidiary of Greater Media, Inc., the parent company of 21AM and FM radio stations in the Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a group of weekly newspapers in central New Jersey as well as several telecommunications towers located throughout the United States.