Bill Michaels
Cumulus Media has promoted Bill Michaels from program director of WXKR(FM), WLQR(FM), WTOD(AM) and WQQO(HD2) to operations manager for the Toledo, Ohio, and Monroe, Mich., cluster. In Knoxville, Tenn., Jeff Jarnigan will also serve in a new role, as operations manager for the station group that includes WIVK(FM).
Michaels takes on a newly-created position in which he will manage eight stations, including: WKKO(FM), WRQN(FM) and WQQO(FM) in Toledo and WMIM(FM) in Monroe, Mich. He will continue to program several stations and also host for WXKR(FM) from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. during the week.
Michaels began his radio career in 1991 on KISS(FM) in his hometown of Toledo, where he worked his way up to operations manager for Clear Channel’s local cluster Toledo. He was also PD of Clear Channel’s WIOT(FM). He joined Cumulus Media Toledo in 2014 as program director of WXKR(FM).
Jeff Jarnigan
“Bill and I have worked together for a long time and while I am quite certain that he has the experience, intuition and leadership skills necessary to lead our stations to greatness, said Cumulus Media Toledo Regional Vice President and Market Manager Andy Stuart. “I’m also quite certain he can handle my penchant for emailing and texting him at 3 a.m.”
Jarnigan has over 30 years’ radio broadcasting experience in the Knoxville market and over 20 years’ experience in programming management.
Jarnigan described the appointment as “akin to winning the radio lottery.” He said, “These stations are each dominant in their respective formats and have defined success in East Tennessee radio for decades. I am excited to partner with the station teams to continue that success and drive their future growth.”
Cumulus Media has 453 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 U.S. media markets, as well as more than 8,200 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels.
