Best Country Program Directors (2015)

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 [email protected]

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.

WUSN/Chicago
CBS Radio
[email protected]
@jeffkapugi

KKBQ/Houston
Cox Media Group
[email protected]
@jchiang68
Years Programming Country: 14

WKLB/Boston
Greater Media
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 30

WXTU-FM/Philadelphia
CBS Radio
[email protected]
@shellyeaston
Years Programming Country: 20

WYCD-FM/Detroit
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 36

WEBG-FM/Chicago
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
@BigSteveRadio
Years Programming Country: 13

KEEY/Minneapolis
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
@thatsalottags
Years Programming Country: 22

KKWF-FM/Seattle
Entercom
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 5

WMZQ-FM/DC
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 17

KDAF-FM/Kansas City
Entercom
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 10

WSOC-FM/Charlotte
Beasley
[email protected]
@stoutman01
Years Programming Country: 12

WLHK/Indianapolis
Emmis
[email protected]
@hankfm
Years Programming Country: 25

KCYY-FM/San Antonio
Cox Media Group
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 24

WQDR-FM/Raleigh
Curtis Media Group
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 12

KBEQ/Kansas City
Wilks Broadcasting
[email protected]
@MikeKennedyQ104
Years Programming Country: 21

WDSY/Pittsburgh
CBS Radio
[email protected]
@mark_a_anderson
Years Programming Country: 5

KWJJ/Portland, OR
Entercom
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 20

KILT-FM/Houston
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 22

KYGO/Denver
Lincoln Financial Media (soon to be Entercom)
[email protected]
@haskell99
Years Programming Country: 17

WFUS-FM/Tampa
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
@us1035travis
Years Programming Country: 22

KSCS & KPLX/Dallas
Cumulus
[email protected]
@JRSchumann1
Years Programming Country: 7

KSON/San Diego
Lincoln Financial Media (soon to be Entercom)
[email protected]
@KSON973
Years Programming Country: 5

KRTY/San Jose
Empire Broadcasting
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 33

WMIL/Milwaukee & WMAD/Madison
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
@fm1061 and @963starcountry
Years Programming Country: 30

KNTY/Sacramento
Entravision
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 5