Cox Media Group has announced a series of talent adjustments at its Country properties in Houston and San Antonio.
The moves start with the promotion of Cox Houston Operations Manager and “93Q” 92.9 KKBQ Program Director Johnny Chiang to Country Format Leader for the company. In that role Chiang succeeds Jeff Garrison, who exits the company.
Garrison, who served as Operations Manager of the company’s San Antonio cluster and Program Director of Country “Y100” KCYY since April 2013, will be replaced as PD by Christi Brooks. Brooks has spent her entire 21 year radio career at KKBQ, most recently serving as APD/MD/midday host and afternoon host at “Country Legends 97.1” KTHT.
Finally Caitlin ‘CJ’ Johnson, who joined KKBQ as afternoon host in August 2019, will succeed Brooks as Assistant Director of Branding & Programming. Johnson served as Music Director and afternoon host at Cox CHR 95.1 WAPE Jacksonville prior to coming to Houston and continues to track back to Jacksonville.
Cox Media Group today announced several promotions within the CMG Houston and San Antonio Radio team. The appointments are effective immediately and build on the great foundation of the Radio team while accelerating the Company’s drive to entertain, serve and build its local communities.
Johnny Chiang will take the helm as Country Format Leader in addition to his role as Director of Operations for CMG Houston. In this expanded role, he will partner with all six of CMG’s award-winning country stations. Throughout his 27-year career with CMG, Johnny has been a three-time CMA winner, four-time Marconi winner and has been named to Radio Ink’s annual list of best country music program directors 11 times. Other accolades include being inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2014 and Billboard’s Most Influential Country Program Director in 2016. Prior to CMG, he programmed at KOST in Los Angeles, CA, an AC format station.
“CMG has some of the greatest brands, led by some of the best program directors in Country radio,” said Chiang. “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to work even closer with this distinguished and already-successful group of talented programmers. I am deeply grateful to Tim Clarke and Steve Smith for their belief in me.
Christi Brooks has been promoted to Director of Branding/Programming for KCYY in San Antonio. Christi started her career as an intern at KKBQ in 1999 before landing a role as weekend on-air talent, then transitioning to nights, mornings and finally middays. Most recently, Brooks served as Assistant Director of Branding/Programming and Midday On-Air Talent of KKBQ in Houston. Brooks will begin working with the Y100 team officially on November 2.
“I had no idea when I walked through the doors 21 years ago at KKBQ that this would be my career path,” said Brooks. “I have been fortunate enough to work with and learn from some of the best in the business. I have been a fan of the team at Y100 for a long time and can’t wait to join them and see what we can do together.”
Caitlin “CJ” Johnson, afternoon drive host for KKBQ, is promoted to the station’s Assistant Director of Branding/Programming role. CJ began her career as a sales assistant at WAPE in Jacksonville, Fla., before landing a weekend show and later holding positions as full-time host and Music Director before relocating to Houston, TX. CJ also currently hosts middays on WAPE.
“Being asked to be Johnny Chiang’s Assistant Director of Branding and Programming is like getting the opportunity to learn how to write a country song from Chris Stapleton,” said Johnson. “You just say ‘yes!’”
“Johnny, Christi and CJ are brilliant programmers, thoughtful leaders, esteemed and respected on-air talent and all-around great people,” said Executive Vice President of CMG Radio Bill Hendrich. “Their passion for the industry and helping others will be the cornerstone of their success in their new roles. Congratulations to them all!”
CMG Radio Vice President of Audience and Content Tim Clarke added, “Johnny, Christi, and CJ are all outstanding leaders in CMG Country, and I am thrilled to see them rise in our organization. In each of their new roles, they will make our award-winning country brands even better.”
