Chicago Radio: Jeff Kapugi OUT As WUSN Program Director

Jeff Kapugi

Jeff Kapugi was cut Tuesday as program Director for Country WUSN 99.5 FM.  His exit comes after six years with CBS Radio, including the last five as program director of US99.

According to Chicago Media blogger Robert Feder, declining revenues and intense competition from a formidable new challenger have claimed the program director of CBS Radio country WUSN FM 99.5.

Tim Pohlman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago, announced Kapugi’s departure in a memo to staff but declined further comment. “Tim will name a new program director for US99 once a search has been completed,” a company spokeswoman said.

Feder reports while he worked out his contract at US99, Kapugi essentially ceded control of programming earlier this year when Todd Cavanah was promoted to vice president of programming for CBS Radio Chicago. In August it was Cavanah who replaced the longtime morning team of Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray Stevens with Doug Stylz and Justin Roman, and rebranded the station as “Chicago’s Hottest Country.”

Once a cash cow for the Chicago station group, US99 has been under siege since iHeartMedia launched a rival country format on WEBG 95.5 FM in January 2015.

“I am extremely proud of my six years with CBS Radio,” Kapugi said Tuesday. “The last five at US99 and the opportunity to program a radio station in my home town were magical. I am proud of what we accomplished as a station and an 11-station country enterprise as VP/Programming.

According to Chicago Radio&Media, prior to WEBG-FM taking a huge bite out of WUSN-FM's ratings and the on-air staff quitting or being fired, US99 had been the highest-rated and most-listened to Country radio station in the biggest market in America.

In 2015, the Academy of Country Music (ACM) named WUSN-FM as its "Radio Station of the Year - Major Market" as part of the 50th annual ACM Awards.

Also in 2015, Kapugi was named as Country radio's #1 Program Director by Radio Ink magazine and Kapugi's peers. Earlier this year, Kapugi was again named as one of the best Program Directors for U.S. Country radio, ranked at #3. Additionally, for the past two years, he was named as one of the American radio's best programmers for any format by Radio Ink.

Kapugi spent almost 20 years working with Michaels at Jacor Communications and Clear Channel Radio (now iHeartMedia), where he held many jobs including Operations Manager, Regional Vice President of Programming, and Program Director. He has worked in numerous markets for Jacor/Clear Channel, including St. Louis, Tampa, Baltimore and Washington, DC.