Chris Conley Is The Best PD In America

5-4-15

It's become one of our most popular lists of the year. The 2015 Best PDs in America can now be seen between the pages of the latest Radio Ink magazine. And the number-one PD in America is iHeartMedia's Chris Conley. Conley programs WLTW in New York City. Every time a ratings book comes out, just like clockwork, WLTW sits on top of the pack. Not bad, in the number-one market in America. iHeartMedia New York SVP/Programming Thea Mitchem says, "Chris is a creative visionary who has the pulse on Adult Contemporary listeners' evolution of tastes and expectations. Chris has a great balance for the art and science of programming, and his passion and expertise continue to keep LTW at the top of its game."

Conley is nearing four decades in the radio business, and in that time he"s racked up miles of experience and a winning track record. "I'm thrilled to be on Radio Ink's list of top PDs this year," he says. "It's hard for me to believe I'm in my 37th year of radio broadcasting and 25th as a program director. On most days I'm as enthusiastic to come into the radio station as when I was starting out as an overnight weekend DJ in Dayton, OH." Conley goes on, "It's exciting and challenging to help keep a legendary station like WLTW on top. Fortunately, the station is well-supported to fight off challengers. We strive to be consistent and continue to build the brand walls higher each day. The station continues to evolve musically and with its presentation. I hear at least once a week from listeners and people in our business how surprised they are by the playlist. It matches the listeners' taste up to the moment, but still surprises some folks who aren't listening or close to it every day.?

Conley says a great program director is someone who lets creative people be creative. "Advice that I've given to two programmers this week: Coach and course-correct, but stop being a control freak. It's important for a programmer to be open-minded about change. Tastes change over time. Today's AC station shouldn't sound like it lives in the '80s, even though lots of the music is from that decade." iHeartMedia EVP/GM National Programming Platforms Clay Hunnicutt tells Radio Ink Conley understands his audience and his station, and how they come together for a great sense of community: "He makes a big impact across WLTW and all of iHeart-Media's AC stations, talent, and programmers."

Reach out to congratulate Conley on taking our top spot chrisconleynyc@iheartmedia.com
Subscribe to the digital edition of Radio Ink magazine for only $49 per year (16 issues) and make the Best PD issue your very first.

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101ESPN Renews Contract With Chris Duncan

11-15-13

101ESPN has completed on-air host Chris Duncan?s contract renewal, solidifying their new daily show schedule set to begin on Monday, November 25, 2013.

The new daily show schedule for 101ESPN is:
--     9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ? ?The Kevin Wheeler Show? with Kevin Wheeler
--     12:00 to 2:00 p.m. ? ?The Turn? with Chris Duncan and Anthony Stalter
--     2:00 to 6:00 p.m. ? ?The Fastlane? with Randy Karraker and D?Marco Farr (with Brad Thompson joining the show on Monday, January 6, 2014).

Additional details about 101ESPN?s new programming line-up will also be available online at http://www.101sports.com/.

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Chris P Gets PD Gig In Tucson

9-9-13

Clear Channel Tucson has named Chris P PD for 93.7 KRQ and My 92.9 KMIY. A Tucson native, Chris grew up listening to KRQ and at age 18 started his radio career as an intern in the Promotions Department at the station. He quickly moved in-studio, shadowing KRQ?s evening personality. In 2001, Chris became a weekend on-air host. In 2003, KRQ named him evening host and music director and in 2008 Chris became KRQ?s afternoon host and APD.

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Chris "CK" Hall Joins B95 Fresno

8-28-13

KBOS B95, Fresno's Hip-Hop Station, announced today that Chris "CK" Hall has joined The Juice Crew Morning Show as co-host alongside Carmen weekday mornings from 5:30 ? 10:00 a.m. PST. Hall was most recently on the air in Stockton. He's hosted mornings in Portland and Tucson with other Clear Channel stations. Earlier in his career Hall worked part-time at B95 and has also worked in San Francisco and Sacramento.  

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Chris Cooley Joins Redskins Radio

7-16-13

Red Zebra Broadcasting signs the former Washington Redskins Pro Bowler Chris Cooley to a multi-year deal. Cooley will join the Washington Redskins Radio Network as an ingame contributor. ?Cooley?s Corner? will be heard quarterly, every game beginning with the pre-season opener in Tennessee on August 8. Cooley joins  Redskin Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen, Rick ?Doc? Walker, and Brian Mitchell as former Redskin players that are members of the Washington Redskins Radio Network.

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Chris Conley Named Best Program Director in America for 2013

4-17-13

One of the most highly anticipated annual lists from Radio Ink Magazine, The Best Program Directors in America, comes out officially on Monday. This list may soon be called "The Best Brand Managers in America." From our research we learned that's the way the position is headed. And, in fact, that's exactly what they're called at Saga Communications. The job of a PD today entails so many things: the product that on the air, the product that comes out of a device, that sits on the Web, delivered on Twitter and Facebook and Pinterest and Instagram. It?s the videos, the podcasts, the apps, and however else the product is delivered today, or might be delivered tomorrow. And let us not forget about the original PD tasks of managing and developing talent, listening to music, managing the GM, working with sales, and stressing about ratings. Who earned that top spot for 2013? Chris Conley from Clear Channel's WLTW in New York.

Conley has been in the radio business for 34 years, 22 of those years as a PD. WLTW in New York is a ratings powerhouse and the station has had an incredible run over the past 18 months with record audience shares. Conley is a great strategist and a respected coach and says he still gets a rush downloading the ratings every Monday.

Being a successful PD in 2013, according to Conley, means having the discipline to make the right decisions at the right time. ?A series of wrong decisions, whether it be music choice or direction, marketing or talent, can sink a brand,? he says. ?That has always been the case in our business. With reduced marketing budgets, it?s  ore important than ever to really be sure about every single decision that involves the brand. Today it takes a more versatile skill set and knowledge base than ever before. Today?s PD should grasp social and digital strategies, know marketing that moves the needle, and understand how to really coach talent.?

Congratulate Chris for being the 2013 King of the PD Hill ChrisConleyNYC@clearchannel.com

Here are a few stats from our 2013 Best PD List (Major Markets)
- Clear Channel scored five of the top ten spots
- CBS had three of the top ten positions
- Two of the top five PD's are females

For young programmers looking to learn from the best, each and every PD on our 2013 list has advice on how to become a great PD in 2013 and beyond. This is extremely valuable information during a time in our business these positions are dwindling. To subscribe to the Digital edition of Radio Ink (for only $49.00 per year for 20 issues) in time to receive this issue GO HERE.

To receive your own digital copy (PDF) of this list you can cherish forever for $9.95 call 561-655-8778.

(4/18/2013 2:18:54 PM)
Chris Conley has one of the MOST FOCUSED and listener targeted stations on the globe...He and his Lite FM staff have put in great W-O-R-K...
This honor is more than well deserved!

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Ric Bucher & Chris Townsend To Team In S.F.

11-26-2012

Ric Bucher and Chris Townsend will now be heard weekdays on Entercom's 95.7 The Game (KGMZ). Townsend (pictured) said, ?It will be a great honor to share the mic and talk sports with Ric Bucher every afternoon. Since Day 1, I?ve believed in this station, because day in and day out, 95.7 The Game delivers the best sports lineup from top to bottom.? Townsend replaces Brandon Tierney, who CBS just announced would be joining the new CBS Sports Radio Network morning show.

Bucher, joined 95.7 The GAME for afternoons in September, having previously served as a Bay Area-based NBA reporter for ESPN?s SportsCenter and NBA studio shows, as well as senior writer covering professional basketball for ESPN The Magazine. Townsend previously hosted The Pulse and The Chris Townsend Show, as well as the pre-game Dugout Show & post-game A's Talk shows on 95.7 The GAME.

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Chris Williams Gets CC PD Gig In Cincy

10-2-2012

Clear Channel names Williams the Program Director for 102.7 WEBN and The Project 100.7/106.3, Cincinnati?s new Alternative Rock offering, as well as Operations Manager for the market. Williams joins the Cincinnati team from Clear Channel Atlanta, where he most recently served as the PD for WKLS. Williams said, ?Clear Channel Cincinnati is an amazing cluster. It is a privilege to have this opportunity to contribute to the cluster?s legacy and to make a positive impact on the next generation of rock fans.?

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CBS Names Chris Patyk PD at KEGY-FM San Diego

9-11-2012

Patyk will program San Diego?s New Energy 103.7. He was the interim PD since the station launched the format back in March. Patyk was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, where he got his start in radio as a producer with Jimmy Kimmel at KRQ in 1993. He most recently held positions as Program Director and Morning Show co-host at 92.9 The Mountain (KWMT?FM) in Tucson.

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Emmis' Chris Nadler Passes

8-26-2012

Nadler's title was Lifestyle Engagement Director/ Music Marketing with HOT-97 in New York according to Market Manager Alex Cameron who tells Radio Ink Nadler was in his early 50's when he died. Program Director Jill Strada tweeted "My heart is so heavy right now. RIP Chris Nadler. An amazing person...so talented & unique. You are missed. May your soul rest in peace." Funeral services will be held today in New Jersey.

A statement released from the company said, "We at Emmis Communications and Hot 97 are devastated by the news that one of our own has passed away. Chris Nadler was an incredibly talented, dedicated and passionate professional very widely respected by peers and colleagues. Chris began his career at Emmis Communications in 1999 as the Sales Record Label Account Manager and has served in several key  positions throughout his career, most recently as the Lifestyle Engagement Director for Hot 97, producing the Hot 97 Summer Jam  Festival Stage and the monthly Who's Next Artist Showcase at S.O.B's in Manhattan. His career accomplishments are too great to list  and his influence and impact on artists, music and marketing will live on."

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Chris O'Neil Gets PD Gig in Upstate N.Y.

7-31-2012

Froggy 107.1 (WFFG-FM), owned by Queensbury-based Adirondack Broadcasting, has hired Chris O?Neil as Program Director. He starts on August 13th. O?Neil joins WFFG from Cat Country (WJEN-FM) in Vermont where he was afternoon host and Promotions Director.

O?Neil began his career in radio as an intern at WORK/WSNO in his hometown of Barre, VT in 1997. He left Vermont to attend The New England School of  Communications in 1998. Soon after, O?Neil joined Clear Channel in Bangor, ME and was Midday host on WGUY, Nights on WBFB and  overnights on WWBX.

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Chris Vernon Moves To 92.9 FM ESPN/Memphis

Vernon
MEMPHIS Sports Talk veteran CHRIS VERNON is moving from KQPN INC. Sports KQPN-A (730 YAHOO! SPORTS) to crosstown ENTERCOM Sports WMFS-A-F (92.9 FM ESPN/680 AM) for the 11a-2p (CT) slot, starting MONDAY (7/9).
"I am thrilled to join 92.9 FM ESPN.  There is no question 92.9 FM ESPN/680 AM is the best platform for a Sports Talk radio host in MEMPHIS," said VERNON.  "There is a tremendous desire from the top down to be the very best and that's a winning culture that I wanted to be a part of.   I can't wait to start!  We are about to change the game."
"92.9 FM ESPN is the #1 Sports and Spoken Word station in the market.   Adding CHRIS VERNON enhances that already strong position," said VP/Market Manager DAN BARRON.  "CHRIS is a top talent who brings a high-energy approach and national experience.   He is a perfect fit for ENTERCOM/MEMPHIS and our advertisers.  The addition of CHRIS VERNON completes an all-star lineup of the best sports talent in the market and will only accelerate the tremendous growth 92.9 FM ESPN/ 680AM has seen since 2009."
"Our team is very excited about the growth of 92.9 FM ESPN/ 680AM and its position as the leader in Mid-South sports.  CHRIS is another game changer." said PD BRAD CARSON.
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Chris Witting Has Advice On A Possible Chicago News Battle For Randy Michaels

June 24, 2011

Will Merlin take on CBS's WBBM and the other news stations in Chicago? The speculation and guessing involving those who love the inside baseball chatter is rampant. Chris Witting is the founder and CEO of Syndication Networks, a Chicago-based radio syndication company. He is also the CEO of TalkZone.com Internet Radio.  Witting also has extensive experience inside the radio industry, being one of the youngest general managers in CBS Radio history, he managed and programmed stations in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other markets. Based in Chicago, Witting has a home field view of the speculation swirling around what Randy Michaels and Merlin Media might do once they take full control of Q101 and the LOOP.

"With Randy Michaels reserving the '1011WIIN' domain, and now hiring Greg Janoff, a former WINS New York executive, I can't help wondering if he plans to do some variation on the 1010 WINS news format here. That format consists of three 20-minute news cycles per hour. If so, is he aware that WMAQ first tried the 20-minute news format against WBBM, only to have it fail? I was at WBBM at the time. In our first head-to-head trend against WMAQ, WBBM scored a 7.1 share against maybe a 2 share for WMAQ. The research showed that Chicago prefers a thirty minute news format. The ratings seemed to prove that."

"Some years later I was at WMAQ, and now trying everything to beat WBBM isn't that a commentary on the crazy radio business. We now had WMAQ running a thirty minute news cycle with energetic production and writing, and fairly aggressive on-air promotion. We even brought back 'WMAQ's Gonna Make Me Rich'. All that plus the kitchen sink finally enabled WMAQ to beat WBBM, two books in a row. In one of those books, WMAQ had top cume in the market. Also helping MAQ beat BBM was midday stunting with the OJ trial and a hot Bulls team. Will be interesting to see what ratings boosters Michaels may try in non-prime dayparts, if any."

(6/24/2011 4:12:25 PM)
Chris, although you make an interesting point, I would point to the PPM which says that the average listening experience to any radio station is 8-11 minutes, and that the key to TSL is no longer "keeping them through the break" but instead getting them to come back more often.

And, if you take apart the Chicago PPM, you'll find Chicagoans are right there with everyone else. In fact, I'd venture a guess that WBBM per occurrence listening is in that same range. So shorter could be a play

(6/24/2011 1:51:38 PM)
@Radio Truth,

My point has little or nothing to do with AM vs. FM, or which generation is listening.

All news radio, by its very nature, must have some type of information cycle. You need to repeat the top stories at some point in the hour. If all news radio still exists in the year 2025, I believe a repeating news cycle will still be in use.

WMAQ beat WBBM back in the 90s by being more "aggressive" and by sounding younger. That should be very easy for Michaels to do, and that part is a no brainer.

But if he tries to do it using a shorter news cycle, that may not fly with Chicagoans. That was my point.

Don't drop that Kindle in the bathtub.

(6/24/2011 12:57:27 PM)
Chris may have been a young GM, but he's clearly an old thinker. Using the example of another AM station trying to beat out a heritage AM station isn't relevant to the discussion.

We're talking FM here and the opportunity to present aggressive news and information to a generation of listeners who either don't listen to AM or spend little time with it.

Wake up and smell the coffee Chris, put away your hard copy books and buy a Kindle.

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