CO Radio: Willobee Carlan To Program Radio Open Air

Willobee Carlan

Colorado Public Radio’s OpenAir (CPR’s OpenAir) has hired music industry expert and radio veteran Willobee Carlan as its next program director. Carlan has nearly four decades of experience in programming and operations, including his most recent venture launching the independent music station NV89 at Nevada Public Radio.

As the OpenAir program director, Carlan will provide leadership and vision to advance the station and support long-term growth strategies for Colorado Public Radio, including a focus on building awareness and trial among new music enthusiasts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Willobee as OpenAir’s next leader and begin a new chapter in the station’s ongoing development,” said President and CEO Stewart Vanderwilt. “Music discovery is an essential part of the Colorado experience and likewise CPR’s service. We’re confident Willobee’s experience and leadership will help elevate OpenAir and the distinct mix of new, independent and local music important to Colorado.”

Carlan’s career in radio began on the air at New York’s legendary WLIR. Over the next 30+ years he went on to launch new stations and lead successful turnaround efforts for others. He’s been a program director and operations manager at stations across the country, from California to Arizona, Texas and all across the northeast.

His recent achievements include heading up broadcast operations for Shamrock Communications, where he was program director for their classic and alternative rock stations. He also developed several start-up stations while at Shamrock, including KRZQ, POP-FM, Z105.3 and K-NEWS in Reno, NV. In 2016, he joined Nevada Public Radio to launch their AAA station, NV89 and was later inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame.