Cumulus Promotes James Kurdziel to VP/Classic Rock

Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted James Kurdziel to Vice President of Classic Rock.

Kurdziel will continue in his roles as Program Director for Cumulus Minneapolis Classic Rock station KQRS-FM. 

James Kurdziel

Kurdziel succeeds Wade Linder as Vice President of Classic Rock and will work collaboratively with Troy Hanson, Vice President of Rock for Cumulus Media. Linder will continue to serve as Program Director for WLS-FM in Chicago, Cumulus Media’s biggest Classic Hits station. Linder will also handle Special Projects for the Cumulus Corporate Programming team. 

Kurdziel has enjoyed fast success in the programming of a Cumulus Classic Rock flagship, KQRS Minneapolis. Before his 2020 arrival in the Twin Cities, Kurdziel programmed acclaimed Cumulus Alternative FM, The Edge/WEDG-FM in Buffalo, NY. 

Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media, said: “James has met the challenge of refining, and redefining, the elements of Classic Rock. He’s helping to rewrite the rules. He balances a keen respect for heritage with fresh thinking and irreverence. Kurdziel has quickly become one of the new guiding voices in Cumulus programming.” Kurdziel said: "The work we do now will provide a roadmap for the next several years and the future of Classic Rock and our talent. It's a great challenge to our creativity and imagination. I'm excited to show what we can do and I'm grateful for this opportunity."