Audacy Updates Leadership For Hip-Hop and R&B Brands

Audacy has announced new organization and leadership updates for its Hip-Hop and R&B brands.

Collaboratively led by Skip Dillard as Adult R&B and Throwback Format Vice President and Mike Street as Mainstream Hip-Hop and R&B Format Vice President, this new vertical is aimed to leverage the collective scale of these 21 local brands to best serve listeners and partners across the country. Dillard will continue as Brand Manager of 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York and Street as Brand Manager of 106.5 The Beat (WBTJ-FM) in Richmond.

The company also announced that Reggie Rouse has signed a multiyear extension to continue to serve as Brand Manager of V-103 (WVEE-FM) in Atlanta. Rouse will step down as Urban Format Vice President to focus on one of the country’s preeminent Hip-Hop and R&B brands.

“There are few leaders more dedicated to the craft of radio and more giving than Reggie, and I’d like to extend a major thanks to him for all the work he's done with our Urban brands over the years,” said Dave Richards, Senior Vice President of Programming, Audacy. “We’re excited to unite our collection of Rhythmic AC, Throwback, Urban and Urban AC brands under one vertical under the leadership of Skip and Mike. Together, they’ll collaborate to share a strategic programming vision that will best serve our listeners and partners.”

Skip Dillard

Skip Dillard joined Audacy in 2021 after 12 years as Vice President of Programming and Operations Manager for WBLS and WLIB in New York. Before joining the company, Dillard served as Vice President of National and Community Partnerships for Mediaco’s WBLS and WQHT. Dillard’s career began at Hampton University’s WHOV-FM as a student and volunteer at North Carolina A&T State University’s WNAA-FM. Early in his career, he worked as a talent and programmer in multiple radio markets, including Detroit, Buffalo, New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington D.C. In addition to radio, Dillard also served as Top 40 and Urban Managing Editor for Billboard Magazine’s “Airplay Monitor” from 2003 to 2004. He has received numerous honors, including “Radio Ink’s Top Program Directors in America” in 2009, 2011 and 2012, a Certificate of Merit for Community Service – U.S. Congress in 2002, the Living Legend’s Foundation honor in 2011 and a Proclamation of Service to New York State and New York City Hall in 2017. He most recently served on the FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council. Dillard was named Format Vice President of Audacy’s Rhythmic Adult Contemporary and Throwback formats in 2023.

Mike Street

Mike Street, a 30+ year radio veteran, caught the radio bug at WDCE at the University of Richmond before moving on to WCDX-FM in Richmond as the station’s mixer and eventually Music Director and afternoon drive host. In 2001, Street helped launch WBTJ as Music Director, Assistant Program Director and later afternoon drive host. 

After becoming Program Director, Street simultaneously programmed 103 JAMZ and 92.1 The Beat in Norfolk. In 2019, he received the prestigious Marconi Award for Medium Market Personality of the Year. Street currently serves as Brand Manager and afternoon host of Audacy’s 106.5 The Beat (WBTJ-FM) in Richmond, Brand Manager of Hot 105.7 (WXSS-HD2) in Milwaukee, and has programming duties for BIG 98.5 (WRXL-HD2) in Richmond.