Jeff Kapugi -- America's Top Program Director

2-25-15

In 2014, WUSN in Chicago was the largest-cume-ing Country station in the U.S. 2014 was also the first full year the station was 100 percent live and local from 5:30 a.m.-midnight. As we polled our top Country programmers for 2015, Jeff Kapugi was listed as the number one program director by more than half, with most others putting him in the top five. He was clearly the dominant choice as the number one PD in Country radio for 2015 ? a remarkable accomplishment.

CBS Radio EVP/Programming Chris Oliviero says, "Jeff is truly a model for the modern Country programmer. He has embraced all the energy, excitement, and buzz of today's country and has crafted a contemporary sound that stands out on the dial. Jeff has also earned the respect of both Nashville and his fellow programmers, which makes him our ideal leader for CBS Radio's major-market country footprint coast to coast." CBS Radio Chicago SVP/Market Manager Rod Zimmerman echoes those sentiments, saying, "Jeff has all the qualities you look for in a program director. He's smart, strategic, experienced, driven, connected, competitive, and he's a problem-solver. Jeff has the confidence of the entire staff, and his leadership skills make everyone around him 'raise their game.' Radio Ink's recognition of Jeff is well earned and well deserved."

Thursday night in Nashville, Radio Ink and Sony Nashville will honor the best country program directors in radio with a special plaque during a star-studded country music event, with most country music program directors in attendance. Congratulate Jeff on being chosen America's top country program director at jeff@cbsradio.com

This year's list of top Country PDs started, as always, with nominations made by radio-industry managers, country music experts, and record label executives. Nominees were asked to respond to questions about their stations and themselves, and they were asked to rank their colleagues as if they were putting together this list themselves. All that information was used by the Radio Ink Country Radio Editorial Committee to determine the 2015 Best Program Directors in Country Radio.

Here's a look at the Top Country PDs list as it appeared in Radio Ink magazine
Below is the 2015 list...

#1) Jeff Kapugi
WUSN/Chicago
CBS Radio
jeff@cbsradio.com
@jeffkapugi

#2) Johnny Chiang
KKBQ/Houston
Cox Media Group
johnny.chiang@coxinc.com
@jchiang68
Years Programming Country: 14

#3) Mike Brophey
WKLB/Boston
Greater Media
mbrophey@greatermediaboston.com
Years Programming Country: 30

#4) Shelly Easton
WXTU-FM/Philadelphia
CBS Radio
shelly.easton@cbsradio.com
@shellyeaston
Years Programming Country: 20

#5) Tim Roberts
WYCD-FM/Detroit
CBS Radio
tim.roberts@cbsradio.com
Years Programming Country: 36

#6) Steve Stewart
WEBG-FM/Chicago
iHeartMedia
stevestewart@iheartmedia.com
@BigSteveRadio
Years Programming Country: 13

#7) Gregg Swedberg
KEEY/Minneapolis
iHeartMedia
greggswedberg@iheartmedia.com
@thatsalottags
Years Programming Country: 22

#8) Mike Preston
KKWF-FM/Seattle
Entercom
mpreston@entercom.com
Years Programming Country: 5

#9) Meg Stevens
WMZQ-FM/DC
iHeartMedia
megstevens@iheartmedia.com
Years Programming Country: 17

#10) Wes Poe
KDAF-FM/Kansas City
Entercom
wpoe@entercom.com
Years Programming Country: 10

#11) DJ Stout
WSOC-FM/Charlotte
Beasley
donald.stout@bbgi.com
@stoutman01
Years Programming Country: 12

#12) Bob Richards
WLHK/Indianapolis
Emmis
brichards@indy.emmis.com
@hankfm
Years Programming Country: 25

#13) Jeff Garrison
KCYY-FM/San Antonio
Cox Media Group
jeff.garrison@coxinc.com
Years Programming Country: 24

#14) Lisa McKay
WQDR-FM/Raleigh
Curtis Media Group
lisamckay@aol.com
Years Programming Country: 12

#15) Mike Kennedy
KBEQ/Kansas City
Wilks Broadcasting
mkennedy@wilkskc.com
@MikeKennedyQ104
Years Programming Country: 21

#16) Mark Anderson
WDSY/Pittsburgh
CBS Radio
mark@y108.com
@mark_a_anderson
Years Programming Country: 5

#17) Mike Moore
KWJJ/Portland, OR
Entercom
mmoore@entercom.com
Years Programming Country: 20

#18) Bruce Logan
KILT-FM/Houston
CBS Radio
bruce.logan@cbsradio.com
Years Programming Country: 22

#19) Eddie Haskell
KYGO/Denver
Lincoln Financial Media (soon to be Entercom)
eddie.haskell@kygo.com
@haskell99
Years Programming Country: 17

#20) Travis Daily
WFUS-FM/Tampa
iHeartMedia
travis@us1035.com
@us1035travis
Years Programming Country: 22

#21) J.R. Schumann
KSCS & KPLX/Dallas
Cumulus
jr.schumann@cumulus.com
@JRSchumann1
Years Programming Country: 7

#22) Kevin Callahan
KSON/San Diego
Lincoln Financial Media (soon to be Entercom)
kevin.callahan@lincolnfinancialmedia.com
@KSON973
Years Programming Country: 5

#23) Julie Stevens
KRTY/San Jose
Empire Broadcasting
jstevens@empirebroadcasting.com
Years Programming Country: 33

#24) Kerry Wolfe
WMIL/Milwaukee & WMAD/Madison
iHeartMedia
kerrywolfe@iheartmedia.com
@fm1061 and @963starcountry
Years Programming Country: 30

#25) Tosh Jackson
KNTY/Sacramento
Entravision
tjackson@entravision.com
Years Programming Country: 5

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CBS Names Jeff Kapugi PD at "US 99.5" Chicago

Prior to joining CBS RADIO in November 2010, Kapugi was Sr. VP and COO at Tribune Interactive in Chicago since September 2008. For nearly three years prior to that, he was Regional Vice President, Programming for Clear Channel?s 11 stations located in Washington,D.C. and Baltimore, and also held the lead programming responsibilities for WIHT.

Kapugi says he's originally from Chicago and have never had the opportunity to program a radio station in his hometown, so to get the opportunity to program a heritage station like US99.5 is one you don?t pass up on?and to add the format VP stripes was icing on the cake.Kapugi told Radio Ink last night "Buddy Scott has done some great things to WUSN over the past 18 months. We?ll keep building on that plan and add some other exciting things to make US99.5 a fun exciting station for the audience.

The Kapugi resume includes a lot of digital experience. "We are all about content these days?on air?on line?wherever.  So yes, I have been able to incorporate my previous digital experience at Clear Channel and Tribune Company into my daily radio life.  Everyone is responsible for the web is a good start.  It can?t just be one web producer, it has to be every on air talent, every promotions person and even the PD."

Kapugi?s country experience includes Operations Manager of WMZQ/D.C. and WPOC/Baltimore, along with start-up participation at KSD/St Louis and WFUS/Tampa.  Additionally, he held Operations Manager and Program Director titles at Clear Channel stations in Tampa (WFLZ, WMTX, WBTP, WDUV) and St. Louis (KSLZ, KLOU).  Kapugi was graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in communications.

CBS Radio also announced that Jeff Garrison will serve in the newly created position of Vice President, Country Artist Relations with a focus on developing cross-platform artist promotions using CBS RADIO?s powerful lineup of leading country music stations and the Company?s expansive digital and mobile assets.  He will continue as Operations Manager for CBS RADIO Phoenix and Program Director of KMLE.

The appointments are effective Monday, December 5.  Kapugi will remain in his current position as Program Director for CBS RADIO?s KEZK and KYKY in St. Louis through November.

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