Cumulus Media has extended Bill Hess’ contract to serve as vice president of news/talk and program director for WMAL(AM/FM). Also, the company named Bill Gentry as vice president/market manager for Cumulus Birmingham.
Hess also currently serves as operations manager for Cumulus’ Washington cluster.
During the course of his four-decade career, Hess has worked as PD for stations including WTEM in Washington; WHJJ in Providence, R.I.; and WHYN(AM/FM) in Springfield, Mass. He was also brand manager for Clear Channel/iHeartRadio and served as SVP of programming for Air America Media. In addition, Hess has programmed music stations including WASH(FM) and WBIG(FM) in Washington.
Gentry most recently served as senior vice president/market manager for Alpha Media Louisville. Prior to that, he was regional market president for iHeartMedia, supervising stations in Louisville; Lexington, Ky.; Somerset, Ky.; and Nashville, Tenn. He was also SVP for Clear Channel Communications, running stations in Kentucky; Ohio; West Virginia; western Pennsylvania; Indianapolis; and Memphis, Tenn.
Gentry served as a member of the board of directors for the Kentucky Broadcasters Association from 2011–2016 and was honored as 2014 CRS/CA Medium Market Manager/GM of the Year.
Cumulus Media combines local programming with nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content through its 441 owned-and-operated stations, approximately 8,000 stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and digital channels.
