DC Radio: WMAL's Bill Hess To Retire

Cumulus Media announces that longtime News/Talk programming professional Bill Hess, Program Director, NewsTalk 105.9 WMAL-FM in Washington, D.C., will retire from radio on December 31st, capping a remarkable 48-year career of distinction.
  
Hess’s radio career has spanned positions on-air and in programming management and he has been honored as one of Radio Ink’s Best Program Directors in America for multiple years. 

For nine years, Hess was Vice of President of News/Talk for Cumulus Media’s 43 News/Talk-formatted stations across the U.S. and was Program Director of WMAL-FM in Washington, D.C. for 15 years. He was also Operations Manager for Cumulus Washington, D.C. Prior to that, Hess served as SVP/Programming for Air America Media. Hess also programmed music stations during his storied career, including WASH-FM and WBIG-FM in Washington, D.C., and was Regional Vice President of Programming for Capstar Broadcasting in Stamford, CT/Westchester, NY.  

Bill Hess

He started his career in 1977 as an air personality at WCBG/Chambersburg, PA, followed by five years at WBET-AM/WCAV-FM/Brockton, MA, and rose to Program Director of those stations.

Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media, said: “Bill is an esteemed leader, teacher and journalist. He possesses intellect, a gift for talent development and strict high standards. It has been our good fortune to work in the trenches with Bill during the overheated recent news cycle. Bill will always be our trusted advisor. We wish Bill great things in retirement and thank him for his uncountable accomplishments with Cumulus Media and our high-performing News/Talk stations – particularly for his work programming our News/Talk flagship, WMAL. His legacy is forever secure.”

Jeff Boden, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Washington, D.C., commented: “It has been a privilege and a blessing to work alongside Bill. His calm, insightful demeanor and his remarkable ability to attract and lead best-in-class talent has set a standard rarely seen in the News/Talk format.”
 
Bill Hess remarked: “I am grateful for these 48 years in the business I love, programming both music and spoken word stations, and working with the most exciting and entertaining teams in radio. Concluding with the past 15 years at WMAL and Cumulus Media has been a true highlight.”