Cumulus Media vp of nation Charlie Cook dinner is ready to depart the corporate, together with his final day being Could 31, Billboard has confirmed. Cook dinner additionally serves as operations supervisor for Cumulus’ Nashville cluster and program director for Nashville nation stations WKDF and WSM-FM Nashville. Cook dinner’s most up-to-date contract renewal was in 2022.
Nation Aircheck first reported the information of Cook dinner’s upcoming departure, noting that Cook dinner informed vp/market supervisor Allison Warren, chief content material officer Brian Philips and senior vp of programming operations John Dimick in April 2023 of his need to pursue new challenges. Cook dinner acknowledged, “They requested me to provide them a yr. Nicely, right here we’re nearly a yr later and it’s time for me to maneuver away from an expertise that I’ve cherished for one thing new and completely different. Thanking everybody inside Cumulus and in Nashville would fill these pages so I sit up for personally thanking everybody over the following few months.”
Philips mentioned in a press release, “Charlie Cook dinner’s accomplishments and awards are the stuff of Nashville legend. He’s after all, in character, irreplaceable. I foresee a future the place we are going to at all times depend on his smart counsel. He represents the gold commonplace amongst Cumulus workers. We’re deeply grateful for his immeasurable contributions.”
Warren added, “Charlie has been a significant a part of the Cumulus and particularly WKDF/WSM-FM household for the previous 9 years. He has helped form and drive the format of each 103.3 Nation and 99.5 Nash Icon, bringing pleasure and leisure to numerous listeners. He’s not solely a proficient skilled, but in addition a loyal buddy and a passionate music lover. We can not thank him sufficient for his years of service, dedication, and creativity. We want him the easiest in no matter adventures are forward. He will probably be significantly missed, however by no means forgotten.”
Cook dinner launched his radio profession at Michigan stations within the Nineteen Seventies, adopted by roles at stations in Denver, L.A. and New York. He acquired Billboard‘s nation DJ of the yr honor in 1977. All through the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties, heserved in roles at McVay Media and Westwood One.
Cook dinner was inducted into the Nation Radio Corridor of Fame in 2011 earlier than becoming a member of Cumulus in 2014. Final yr, he was honored with the Academy of Nation Music’s service award, alongside Invoice Mayne; Cook dinner is the Academy of Nation Music’s longest-serving board member.
Cumulus Media has launched a seek for Cook dinner’s successor, having posted a job opening for a music & model content material supervisor.
