Chicago Radio: Trib Appoints Jimmy deCastro As WGN GM

Veteran Chicago radio executive Jimmy de Castro has been named president and general manager of WGN-AM 720, Tribune Co. announced Thursday.

The move puts one of Chicago's most charismatic and successful broadcast managers in charge of the legacy radio station, with plans to re-energize, refocus and build ratings and revenue at WGN.

"There's been a lot of change in it over recent years, and a lot of controversy around it, given the personalities that have come and gone," said Larry Wert, Tribune Co.'s president of local broadcasting. "We're just really looking forward to some smart, go-forward stability. I don't think we could have picked anyone better than Jim de Castro."

Jimmy de Castro

The 60-year-old De Castro, who ran the seminal WLUP-FM 97.9 -- and its roster of larger-than-life air personalities -- during its heyday in the 1980s, rode a wave of industry consolidation over a 20-year radio management career until he helmed the largest chain in the nation.

More than a decade removed from his last radio job, de Castro will begin his new role on June 3, reporting to Wert, his former WLUP protege, who became Tribune Co.'s head of local broadcasting in February. Chicago-based Tribune Co. owns eight daily newspapers including the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, 23 television stations, WGN America and its legacy radio station, which has been on the air since the 1920s. 

While still one of the top-billing and top-rated stations in Chicago, WGN has endured its share of challenges recently amid personnel changes and revenue declines, culminating in the departure of longtime general manager Tom Langmyer last October.  Jeff Hill, the station's director of sales, has been serving as interim general manager.

WGN, which is ranked 4th in the most recent Arbitron ratings for Chicago with a 4.8 share, took a big hit in revenue last year, dropping by more than $5 million to $30.2 million, according to BIA/Kelsey. De Castro hopes to improve on both ratings and revenue for WGN.

de Castro came to Chicago in 1981 to take over WLUP-FM 97.9 and eventually parlayed that into a job running one of the nation's biggest radio giants.

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