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Looking For A Program Director Gig

JustinSaysRadio

JustinSaysRadio

Hello everyone!

I’m Justin Walters, a dedicated radio professional with 10 years of on-again, off-again experience in the industry. Recently, I was the Program Director of Mean Green Hits, an internet radio station at the University of North Texas that brought CHR hits from the 1990s to the 2010s to Gen Z and Millennials and now featured a student-focused CHR format. I’ve built and managed internet radio stations for around five years and have a deep passion for crafting playlists, managing rotations, and engaging audiences.

Now, I’m looking to take the next step in my career and land a Program Director role at a terrestrial or digital station. My expertise includes:

Music Programming & Rotation Strategy – I’ve developed a successful format that blends '90s, 2000s, and 2010s hits, ensuring strong engagement from my target audience.
On-Air & Station Management – From scheduling to promotions, I’ve handled the day-to-day operations of a growing station.
Talent Development & Community Engagement – I enjoy working with fellow radio personalities and creating content that connects with listeners.
Adapting to Trends – I understand what people want in radio and how to make stations appealing to younger demographics.

I’m open to opportunities in AC, Hot AC, or Classic Hits formats, but I’m happy to adapt to other station needs. If you know of any openings or have advice on making the jump, I’d love to connect!

Let’s bring great radio to more ears. I'm graduating from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor's Degree in Converged Broadcast Media and a Minor in Journalism in May!

If you're interested in hiring me, email me at [email protected]!

Thanks,
Justin Walters
 
Justin,

I know you mean well, but the job pool is flooded with dozens if not hundreds of Program Directors with decades plus of experience. Why should a station hire someone who has programmed an internet station out of college with no experience in commercial broadcasting? Take your time to get your foot in the door and learn that side of the business. By seeking a PD job out of the gate it will come off as extremely egotistical and potential employers will take note. To the industry you are coming in as "entry level" and need to earn your way up, not start at the top. Programming hobby internet stations as a kid and a college station doesn't mean much in the big picture.

There are dozens of jobs for newcomers. Find a small market station, volunteer to do anything needed, and earn your promotions. Back in the early days of this site (in the late 90s/early 2000s) I and others of your age starting out did the same thing. I know of a kid who was posting here as a 12 year old who is now an SVP for iHeart. Another owns multiple stations and is nationally syndicated. Others are successful in other parts of the industry. Even in a compressed marketplace, you still need to start at the bottom and work your way up.
 
I'd add to Scotts very good advice that you should find an opportunity where you can learn MusicMaster or GSelector skills as well as digital studio systems like Zetta. Significant stations do no use "free" or $100 music scheduling and use very premium systems to combine the music log with the commercial log.

With so many stations running voicetracks and recorded elements, knowing the core software is essential.

Of course, a strong knowledge of both PPM and Diary audience measurement is essential, as a PD will work with the manager and sales department and has to understand demographics, TSL, cume vs. AQH and all the other things with initials.
 
lanceventa said:
Justin,

I know you mean well, but the job pool is flooded with dozens if not hundreds of Program Directors with decades plus of experience. Why should a station hire someone who has programmed an internet station out of college with no experience in commercial broadcasting? Take your time to get your foot in the door and learn that side of the business. By seeking a PD job out of the gate it will come off as extremely egotistical and potential employers will take note. To the industry you are coming in as "entry level" and need to earn your way up, not start at the top. Programming hobby internet stations as a kid and a college station doesn't mean much in the big picture.

There are dozens of jobs for newcomers. Find a small market station, volunteer to do anything needed, and earn your promotions. Back in the early days of this site (in the late 90s/early 2000s) I and others of your age starting out did the same thing. I know of a kid who was posting here as a 12 year old who is now an SVP for iHeart. Another owns multiple stations and is nationally syndicated. Others are successful in other parts of the industry. Even in a compressed marketplace, you still need to start at the bottom and work your way up.
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I thoroughly enjoy your perspective and fully appreciate that the majority of individuals in the industry follow a very traditional path—starting in an entry position, building their experience hands-on in commercial radio, and working their way slowly up over the years. I have a great deal of respect for individuals who have built lasting, successful careers through that avenue, and I don't make the process of getting into the industry out to be something simplistic.

All that being said, while my commercial radio experience may be limited (I'd be more than glad to send you my resume, if you're interested in taking a look), I've have actively programmed, ran, and built several internet stations that either have or had an existing audience. With this, I've had hands-on experience in music programming, branding, imaging, talent creation, audience participation, and station operations in general. I fully recognize that running an online station differs from running a commercial FM or AM station, but it has provided me with a strong foundation in programming strategy and the nitty-gritty of running a station day to day.

I want to emphasize that my goals are not ego-driven. I don't see myself walking into a PD role at a major or PPM market station, nor do I have unrealistic expectations of bypassing the experience needed to get there. My passion for programming stems from an actual love of radio, and I simply wish to do my part, learn, and grow as much as possible. I know that success here is not given, but rather achieved, and I am perfectly willing to do the work, take on many roles, and earn my stripes like any other individual who has come before me.

I truly appreciate your suggestion, and I will certainly keep it in mind as I continue along the path with radio. Feel free to take the time to offer your feedback—having the industry experts let me know what they think really matters to me, and I am excited to discover my place in the business.
 
radiofan2023 said:
You should contact Sam Weaver, he has been on air and was PD at KPRS & KPRT. He is a super nice guy and I’m sure he would be willing to listen to your airchecks, etc:
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Thanks for the recommendation! I appreciate that. I will certainly get in touch with Sam Weaver—obtaining the opinion of someone with his experience would be incredibly valuable. I am constantly looking to improve, and getting feedback on my airchecks from an industry veteran like him would be a great opportunity to learn. Thanks again for recommending him!
 
JustinSaysRadio said:
Thanks for the recommendation! I appreciate that. I will certainly get in touch with Sam Weaver—obtaining the opinion of someone with his experience would be incredibly valuable. I am constantly looking to improve, and getting feedback on my airchecks from an industry veteran like him would be a great opportunity to learn. Thanks again for recommending him!
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Okay, you want to jump from a stream to a commercial radio station.

How many average listeners did or does your stream have? Not total samplers, average persons at any given time. And how many persons do you think are in the average audience of a high-end-of-the Top-100-market-station? How many of them are in some portion or age span of the ages advertisers seek?

If you went on a 4-legged sales call with your station's seller, what would you tell a client about your station that matters to them?

If you are in a rated market, you have to able to tell the difference between cume, AQH persons, share and rating (hint: three of those are the same,just like MPH and KmPH are the same with cars). Describe what you think are optimum song rotations by category, with comparison of horizontal and vertical rotations.

How would you research songs if you had no budget for a music test or "call out". In fact, why is "call out" obsolete but we still do current music research? How do you pick new songs in a current-based music format and does personal taste have anything todo with it?

I am making simple questions, but with no commercial radio experience and, in fact, no over the air radio experience, you need to be sure you know the basics.

I do not want to discourage you. In fact, when I was 18, I badly wanted my own radio station. I had worked part time and played the stock market since I was a pre-teen, five years as a go-fer at a bad radio station, but I had enough money to buy a CP for a new station in a market of over 1 million with over 30 other station. And I knew I wanted the first Top 40 station in the market, although nobody had tried that there before. Everything and everyone said I would fail, and I had no sales at all for 7 months. I learned what ignorance and fear were.

So, what I am saying is that it can be done. But you need to learn the basics of competitive commercial radio first, and that requires that you spend years learning the basics from those who know more.

It can be done. The end of my 7-months of famine story is that ratings finally came out, and the dumb kid had the #1 station in the market. It was sold out in 30 days. So don't be discouraged, but take the time to learn from the bottom up. I started by getting coffee, cleaning the bathroom and filing records. I gradually was given paid stuff to do, and each step was a new lesson in real radio.
 
There are many positions at a radio station. But, but, but, everyone wants to be the program director. However, it's those who pay for advertising or make donations who dictate what you play.
 
Justin listen to Lance and David...and talk to Sam. He used to write a column for All Access back in the day and knows his stuff. The quickest way to get where you want to go is to shut up, and listen to people who not only know more, but have actually done what you want to do. Dont let your age get in the way of life experience.
 
The Hustle said:
Justin listen to Lance and David...and talk to Sam. He used to write a column for All Access back in the day and knows his stuff. The quickest way to get where you want to go is to shut up, and listen to people who not only know more, but have actually done what you want to do. Dont let your age get in the way of life experience.
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Appreciate the advice! I’m always open to learning from those who’ve been in the industry longer than I have. If Lance, David, and Sam have insights that can help me grow and navigate my path, I’m all ears.

That said, I believe there’s value in both listening and speaking up: sharing ideas, asking questions, and bringing fresh perspectives to the table. Experience is invaluable, but so is adaptability in a changing industry. I want to strike that balance between learning from the best and carving out my own path.

I’ll definitely look into connecting with Sam. Thanks for the tip!
 
JustinSaysRadio said:
Hello everyone!

I’m Justin Walters, a dedicated radio professional with 10 years of on-again, off-again experience in the industry. Recently, I was the Program Director of Mean Green Hits, an internet radio station at the University of North Texas that brought CHR hits from the 1990s to the 2010s to Gen Z and Millennials and now featured a student-focused CHR format. I’ve built and managed internet radio stations for around five years and have a deep passion for crafting playlists, managing rotations, and engaging audiences.

Now, I’m looking to take the next step in my career and land a Program Director role at a terrestrial or digital station. My expertise includes:

Music Programming & Rotation Strategy – I’ve developed a successful format that blends '90s, 2000s, and 2010s hits, ensuring strong engagement from my target audience.
On-Air & Station Management – From scheduling to promotions, I’ve handled the day-to-day operations of a growing station.
Talent Development & Community Engagement – I enjoy working with fellow radio personalities and creating content that connects with listeners.
Adapting to Trends – I understand what people want in radio and how to make stations appealing to younger demographics.

I’m open to opportunities in AC, Hot AC, or Classic Hits formats, but I’m happy to adapt to other station needs. If you know of any openings or have advice on making the jump, I’d love to connect!

Let’s bring great radio to more ears. I'm graduating from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor's Degree in Converged Broadcast Media and a Minor in Journalism in May!

If you're interested in hiring me, email me at [email protected]!

Thanks,
Justin Walters
Click to expand...
I dont Have a Budget right now but Im trying to start a Online radio Station and Voice track I am in to Pop top 40 and Hip hop and all types lets work
 


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