Charlie Cook To Exit Cumulus

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Charlie Cook

Charlie Cook will exit his positions as Vice President of Country Music for Cumulus, Programming Operations Manager for Cumulus Nashville’s five-station cluster and as the Program Director for both 95.5 Nash Icon (WSM-FM) and 103.3 Country (WKDF). His last day is May 31.

“Last April, I let Allison Warren, Brian Philips and John Dimick know of my intentions to find a new challenge,” Cook says. “They asked me to give them a year. Well, here we are almost a year later and it’s time for me to move away from an experience that I have loved for something new and different. Thanking everyone inside Cumulus and in Nashville would fill these pages so I look forward to personally thanking everyone over the next few months.”

Cook began his radio career in 1972 at WSDS in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In the ’70s, he spent time at KLAK in Denver, WWVA in Wheeling and WHN in New York. In 1980, he joined KHJ in Los Angeles, flipping the station to country. Cook then went to KLAC before joining McVay Media in 1983 as SVP of Country Programming, where he consulted more than 40 country stations over the next 12 years.

In 1996, Cook joined Cumulus Media’s Westwood One as VP, Programming/Formats. 10 years later he joined Cumulus as VP of Programming for the company’s 67 country stations. Cook received the ACM Service Award at the 2023 ACM Honors for his dedication to the format. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2011, and received the ACM Service Award at the 2023 ACM Honors as the organization’s longest-serving board member.

“Charlie Cook’s accomplishments and awards are the stuff of Nashville legend,” says Philips. “He is of course, in character, irreplaceable. I foresee a future where we will always rely on his wise counsel. He represents the gold standard among Cumulus employees. We are deeply grateful for his immeasurable contributions.”

“Charlie has been a vital part of the Cumulus, and specifically the WKDF/WSM-FM, families for the past nine years. He has helped shape and drive the format of both 103.3 Country and 95.5 Nash Icon, bringing joy and entertainment to countless listeners. He is not only a talented professional, but also a loyal friend and a passionate music lover. We cannot thank him enough for his years of service, dedication and creativity. We wish him the very best in whatever adventures are ahead. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten,” shares Warren.

A job posting for Cumulus Nashville’s Music & Brand Content Manager (Station Program Director) is open now.

LB Cantrell
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