Townsquare Media Promotes Wilde, Barber, Kootman

Townsquare Media announced today that JB Wilde on the company’s corporate Content and Programming Team has been promoted to Vice President.

JB Wilde

As Vice President, Content & Programming, Wilde will help drive the company’s Live and Local strategy and lead a group of Regional Content Directors who work closely with multiple Townsquare clusters of local media brands to entertain, inform, and grow audience across all platforms – broadcast, digital, social and events.

Wilde joined Townsquare six years ago as Director of Content for the company’s Rochester, MN cluster as well as Regional Operations Manager for all Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois clusters. In the spring of 2020, Wilde transferred to become Director of Content for its Monmouth-Ocean, NJ stations, and this past fall, he moved into a Regional Content Director role overseeing Townsquare’s stations in New Jersey and New York. Prior to joining Townsquare, JB spent 14 years with iHeartMedia, making notable programming stops in Minneapolis, Hartford, Atlanta, and Greensboro.

'Sweet Lenny' Barber

Townsquare is also growing the corporate Content and Programming group by promoting two local leaders onto the team. Christopher “Sweet Lenny” Barber has been elevated to Regional Content Director from the company’s Rockford, IL cluster, where he has spent the last six years as Director of Content. Danielle Kootman (lower right) also joins as Regional Content Director after spending the last six years in the company’s Cedar Rapids, IA cluster as Digital Managing Editor.

Townsquare’s Chief Content Officer Jared Willig notes, “JB is a superstar leader with impressive vision and drive. I am tremendously proud of the work that Kurt Johnson and the entire Content and Programming team do every day to grow our influential radio brands on-air, online and on the ground in their local communities. He is incredibly deserving of the new title and role in the company. Chris and Danielle are fantastic leaders that I am so glad are joining the team. Their track records speak for themselves. I’m excited to see where he can take our teams next. ”

SVP/Content and Programming Kurt Johnson adds, “Could not be happier to promote JB and add Danielle and Lenny to the Content and Programming team. They’ve succeeded at every job we’ve given them, and their skills will strengthen the team and continue Townsquare’s growth as the leading local media company in our markets.”

“I love the people, brands, and vision of Townsquare Media,” said Wilde. “I’m honored to call this home, grateful to Jared Willig for the opportunity, thankful for Kurt Johnson’s mentorship, and appreciative of all I’ve learned from Jackie Corley. I’m excited to partner up with our incredible Townsquare teams and make an even wider impact in 2022 and beyond.”