Here Are The 2017 Best PDs In Country Radio

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They are some of the most important names in Nashville, and across the Country radio fruited plain. They are on a first-name basis with country music’s biggest stars and Nashville’s most important executives. Why? Because radio is still the most important outlet for music to be played and heard, and the PDs on the pages that follow carry around the keys to the radio stations country music fans love most. The relationship between country stars, Country PDs, Country radio stations, and the country music fans is like none in any other format. If you’ve ever attended a Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, you know exactly what we mean. The stars mingle with the programmers, great relationships are formed, and a lot of artists and PDs talk or text on a regular basis.

And being one of the Best Country Program Directors is much more than mingling with the stars. A successful Country PD has to execute the format flawlessly in markets where there is typically more than one station competing for country fans. A successful Country PD has to have an ear for the music, and be willing to take chances on a new song or new artist. A successful Country PD has to nurture relationships with label executives in Nashville who now have more outlets than ever to get their music to the masses. And a successful Country PD must serve the local community, which is one of the hallmarks, along with strong ratings, of a consistently successful Country radio station. And over the past year, every one of the PDs on this list has succeeded at all of those things.

Here’s a look at the list as it was printed in the February 13, 2017 issue of Radio Ink Magazine.

shelly-eastonn1. Shelly Easton
WXTU/Philadelphia
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 30
Years Programming Country: 20

 

mike-brophey2. Mike Brophey
WKLB/Boston
Beasley Broadcast Group
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 43
Years Programming Country: 30

 

johnny-chiang-jana-kramer3. Johnny Chiang
KKBQ/Houston
Cox Media Group
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 27
Years Programming Country: 12

 

tim-roberts-jason-aldeen4. Tim Roberts
WYCD/Detroit
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 39
Years at WYCD: 11

 

steve-stewart-cole-swindell5. Steve Stewart
WEBG-FM/Chicago
iHeartMedia
Twitter: @BigSteveRadio
Years in Radio: 29
Years in Country: 14

 

lisa-mckay-26. Lisa McKay-Blake
WQDR/Raleigh
Curtis Media
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 35
Years at WQDR: 15

 

stevegeofferies2017-27. Steve Geofferies
KNIX-FM/Phoenix
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 21
Years at KNIX: 3

 

tim-richards-and-chris-stapleton8. Tim Richards
KMLE/Phoenix
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 25
Years Programming Country: 4

 

meg-stevens-and-luke-bryan9. Meg Stevens
WMZQ-FM/Washington, DC
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 30
Years Programming Country: 20

 

greg-swedberg-and-dierks-bently10. Gregg Swedberg
KEEY-FM/Minneapolis-St. Paul
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 38
Years Programming KEEY: 24

 

dj-stout-111. DJ Stout
WSOC-FM/Charlotte
Beasley Media Group
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 22
Years Programming Country: 12

 

jeff-garrison-and-taylor-swift-212. Jeff Garrison
KCYY-FM/San Antonio
Cox Media
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 34
Years Programming Country: 27

 

bruce-logan13. Bruce Logan
KILT-FM/Houston
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 33, 25 as PD
Years Programming KILT: 3

 

charlie-cook-and-kelsea-ballerini-214. Charlie Cook
WSM-FM & WKDF-FM/Nashville
Cumulus Media
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 47
Years as a Programmer: 43

 

travis-daily-215. Travis Daily
WFUS-FM/Tampa Bay
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 20
Years at WFUS: 12

 

grover-collins-and-chris-stapleton16. Grover Collins
WUBE-FM/Cincinnati
Hubbard Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 30
Years Programming Country: 27

 

gator-harrison17. Gator Harrison
WSIX-FM/Nashville
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 30+
Years Programming Country: 21

 

bob-barnett18. Bob Barnett
WBEE-FM/Rochester, NY
Entercom
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 33
Years Programming Country: 29

 

drew-bland-with-locash19. Drew Bland
WWKA-FM/Orlando
Cox Media Group
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 13
Years Programming Country: 10

 

kerry-wolfe20. Kerry Wolfe
WMIL/Milwaukee
iHeartMedia
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 32

 

 

SONY DSC

21. (tie) Mac Daniels
KPLX-FM and KSCS-FM/Dallas
Cumulus Media
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 40
Years Programming Country: 25

 

rob-morris21. (tie) Rob Morris
WKIS-FM/Miami
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 33
Years Programming Country: 5

 

keny-jay22. Kenny Jay
KMPS/Seattle
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Country Radio: 20

 

mark-anderson23. Mark Anderson
WDSY-FM/Pittsburgh
CBS Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 26
Years Programming Country: 7

 

scott-roddy24. Scott Roddy
WIL & WARH/St. Louis
Hubbard Radio
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 26
Years Programming Country: 5

 

julie-stevens-and-nate-deaton-225. Julie Stevens
KRTY-FM/San Jose, CA
Empire Broadcasting
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 28
Years at KRTY: 25

 

jon-riley26. Jon Reilly
WKLI-FM/Albany NY
Pamal Broadcasting
[email protected]
Years Programming Country: 11

 

fletch-brown-randy-houser27. Fletcher Brown
WXFL-FM & WLVS-FM/Florence, AL
Big River Broadcasting.
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 20
Years Programming Country: 11

 

mark-mckay-and-garth-brooks28. Mark McKay
WGH-FM/Virginia Beach, VA
Max Media
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 24
Years Programming Country: 15

 

tosh-jackson29. Tosh Jackson
KNTY-FM/Sacramento
Entravision
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 19
Years Programming Country: 7

 

sue-wilson-230. Sue Wilson
WQMX/Akron, OH
Rubber City Radio Group
[email protected]
Years in Radio: 36

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