Grand Ole Opry LLC Classic Country 650 WSM Nashville has made some cuts to its staff and schedule.
Eliminated from the daily schedule are the “Nashville Today” talk show hosted by Devon O’Day and Lexi Carter in the 10am-12pm and the live overnight “WSM All Nighter with Marcia Campbell”. The station has also moved the nightly “Route 650” Bluegrass/Americana show from the 6pm hour to Saturdays from 4-6pm. “Off The Track” hosted by Liz Allison has been eliminated from the weekend schedule.
“Nashville Today” had aired in afternoon drive from 3-6pm until the short-lived addition of “SportsNight with George Plaster” to the WSM schedule in July 2019. Mike Terry’s midday airshift has been extended back to 10am-3pm.
The schedule changes accompany the departure of Chris Kulick from his second tenure as WSM General Manager. Kulick has joined local newspaper publisher Main Street Media as New Business Development Sales Manager after serving as GM of WSM from 2003-2010 and again from July 2015 until last month. Program Director J Patrick Tinnell is now listed as the WSM General Manager, but no official announcement has been made. Tinnell had been promoted from Digital Program Director to Program Director last summer.
Experienced radio and marketing professional, Chris Kulick, is making the move to Main Street Media, where he will serve as the New Business Development Sales Manager.
“I am grateful for the 18 cumulative years I spent with Gaylord Entertainment, Ryman Hospitality, and WSM. I would like to thank the CEO, Colin Reed, and all of the great people I met for treating me so well throughout the years. I wish that great company all the best,” Kulick says. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the owner of Main Street Media, Dave Gould. From the day I met Dave, I felt a special chemistry that I believe will allow us to continue to grow Main Street Media’s vision, while allowing me to bring my unique skill set to the daily operations.”
Formerly with Ryman Hospitality Properties, Kulick resigned his position as WSM General Manager for this new venture.
“We are very excited that Chris is joining the Main Street team. With his vast experience, he is going to be a tremendous help as we work on new ways to share information with our readers and bring more value to local advertisers,” Dave Gould, co-owner of Main Street Media, says.Kulick, who was voted one of Radio Ink’s 2018 Best Managers, has built an impressive reputation in radio and marking, including working with sales and promotions at 99.7 WTN, the Titans Radio Network, and 104.5 The Zone. Both 99.7 WTN and 104.5 The Zone became the number one billing stations, respectively, in the market with Kulick’s influence. While at WSM, he created and monetized, WSM Roadshow, Music City Mentors, Music for Kids, Route 650 Americana streaming station, and the Opry Radio streaming station. Additionally, Kulick independently co-created Music City Sports Festival and the Peachtree Sports Festival (Atlanta, GA), which are both focused on youth sports clinics.
In addition to his career move, Kulick plans to continue to develop his songwriting career. He has released three albums to date – Old Time Night, Red Radio, and Songs From the Soul. Old Time Night won a San Francisco Bay Area Music Award (The BAMMIES), while Red Radio was nominated for one. Kulick has also performed at the historic Ryman Auditorium twice with Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam. In his free time, he offers guitar lessons for beginners.
Chris Kulick may be reached at 615-305-8248 or ckulick@mainstreetmediatn.com.
WSM is following in the same footsteps as the others. Cutting on air personalities and replacing them with “canned” music or what is termed “WSM programming” which I can get anywhere on the web.The programming is losing its personal touch. I will miss the All Nighter show which I have listened to since its beginning. Sad days which I remember in radio and soon will be unrecognizable as we know it today.