Rico Leaps From Market 64 To #2

Rick Thomas

Hawaii radio personality Rick Thomas has been appointed program director of stations in Los Angeles, the No. 2 radio market in the U.S., according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Thomas, currently Ohana Broadcast Company Director of Programming and “Quiet Storm” host on KUMU-FM 94.7, will begin a new job June 17 as Program Director for legendary radio station KRTH-FM 101.1 or “K-Earth” and sister-station KTWV-FM 94.7 “The Wave” in Los Angeles.

Broadcast industry trade publications are trumpeting the announcement via e-mail blasts as breaking news.

Honolulu is the 64th-largest radio market in the U.S., while Los Angeles is second only to New York City.

Thomas, who goes by “Rico” on the air, also has worked in San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego.

Thomas will be filling the shoes of legendary LA programmer Jhani Kaye. Kaye’s stint with KOST-FM (1982 -2005) before moving to K-Earth and, later, The Wave also gave him the record for longest-running programmer at a single LA station.