Beasley Media has announced the appointment of Rick Thomas as Brand Manager of its Tampa cluster and Program Director of Country 99.5 WQYK.
Thomas joins WQYK from SummitMedia where he has served as Brand and Content Leader for Top 40, Hot AC and AC since February 2021. Thomas also served as PD of CHR “Star 102.1” WWST Knoxville during his two years with the company. He has previously served as VP/Programming and Operations for Max Media Denver, Operations Manager for Cox Media Group in Tampa and Program Director of AC “Magic 94.9” WWRM, CHR “Hot 101.5” WPOI, and Soft AC 105.5 WDUV, Director of Programming for Ohana Broadcast Group Honolulu, Pacific Region Brand Manager for Clear Channel, and Program Director of CHR “92.3 Amp Radio” WBMP New York and Smooth AC “94.7 The Wave” KTWV and Classic Hits “K-Earth 101.1” KRTH Los Angeles for CBS Radio and Rhythmic CHR “Z90” XHTZ and Rhythmic Oldies “Magic 92.5” XHRM Tijuana/San Diego for Broadcast Company of Americas. Earlier in his career Thomas programmed WLUM Milwaukee, KYLD San Francisco, and KSFM Sacramento.
Thomas succeeds former cluster OM Travis Daily as PD of WQYK. Daily exited Beasley Tampa in October 2022 during the company’s round of layoffs after spending four and half years at the cluster. He has since joined Cumulus Media’s “93.3 The Bull” KUBL Salt Lake City as Program Director.
Beasley Media Group announces Rick Thomas has been named as the new Brand Manager of the company’s Tampa-based radio cluster, including WLLD-FM, WQYK-FM, WRBQ-FM, WYUU-FM, WPBB-FM and WHFS-AM. In addition, he will serve as program director of WQYK-FM in Tampa. Thomas will officially begin his new position on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing all the stations in the cluster as well as programming WQYK-FM.
Thomas most recently served as the national format leader and day to day Program Director at Summit Media’s WWST-FM in Knoxville. Prior to that, he worked as the Program Director and Operations Manager for Cox’s Tampa-based radio cluster and CBS radio, where he had multi-format wins in both New York and Los Angeles.
“After an extensive nationwide search, it’s a pleasure to welcome Rick to the Beasley Tampa team,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase. “With Rick’s track record of success and experience in Tampa, not to mention the positive history he has with our Market Manager, I believe QYK is in good hands.”
“Having an opportunity to return to Tampa, make a difference for a company I’ve greatly admired and reunite with my New York City partner, Ron DeCastro, is a dream come true,” said Thomas. “I am thrilled to curate and lead the legendary 995 QYK into the future. We have amazing talent in the building, and I am super excited to be a resource to them and help grow our cluster.”
“I am excited to once again get the chance to work with Rick Thomas,” said Beasley Media Group Tampa Vice President and Market Manager Ron deCastro. “Rick is one of the best Programming minds and Culture builder and I look forward to teaming up again with him in Tampa.”
