Gregg ‘Opie’ Hughes is joining Westwood One to host a biweekly podcast starting the week of April 17.
Hughes made the announcement in a YouTube video over the weekend. He notes that he will also build an “Opie Radio” podcast network and a radio element to be determined as part of his deal with the company. The former co-host of the Opie & Anthony show, stated that he began speaking to Westwood One soon after his former CBS Radio VP/Rock Programming and SiriusXM SVP/Comedy & Entertainment Tim Sabean joined the company in January as SVP/Digital Content.
Mid-West Family Broadcasting Country “105.1 The Bull” KOMG Willard/Springfield MO has appointed Summer Stevens as morning co-host alongside John Kimmons. Stevens exited Scripps’ crosstown Country 94.7 KTTS Springfield last month and will debut on the new “Biscuits & Gravy Morning Show” on Monday, March 26.
Cumulus Media has promoted Rock “103.3 The Edge” WEDG Buffalo NY PD/Midday host Jim Kurdziel to Regional Vice President of Programming of Rock adding oversight of stations in Syracuse NY, Harrisburg and Wilkes Barre PA, Saginaw MI, New Orleans LA and Appleton WI. He will continue in his current position at WEDG.
Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted Rock programming professional Jim Kurdziel to Regional Vice President, Programming – Rock, overseeing the Rock and Alternative formats for Cumulus’ radio stations in the Northeastern U.S. Kurdziel will continue to serve Cumulus Media-Buffalo, NY, as Program Director and Midday Personality for WEDG-FM (103.3 The Edge) in Buffalo. In his new role as Regional Vice President, Programming – Rock, for Cumulus, Kurdziel will support stations in markets including: Buffalo, NY; Syracuse, NY; Harrisburg, PA; Wilkes Barre, PA; Saginaw, MI; New Orleans, LA, and Appleton, WI.
Mike McVay, Executive Vice President, Content & Programming, Cumulus Media, said: “Jim has shown his ability to program successfully. His track record speaks for itself. We’re excited to expand his role and take advantage of his success and experience.”
Troy Hanson, Vice President, Programming, Rock, Cumulus Media, said: “We are incredibly proud of Jim for this well-deserved promotion. He is a natural leader. It is a true recognition of his skills, talents and commitment to excellence. And that’s just his hair.”Kurdziel said: “It’s hard for me to put into words how much this means to me. To have Mike McVay, John Dimick and Doug Hamand believe in me is humbling and I don’t know what I can say about Troy (that he won’t make fun of me for saying). He doesn’t like getting credit or attention, but to put it simply, he’s made a lot of lives and careers better, especially mine. To continue my career with Cumulus is my passion because Mike is leading us to new heights and it’s so much fun to follow him. Working with true mentors like Ralph Cipolla, Keith Cunningham, Derek Madden, Val Garris and so many others is a privilege. That I can continue in my hometown of Buffalo, NY, with Steve Bearance leading our amazing team is a really wonderful perk – a very cold perk, but a perk, nonetheless.”
