Who’s Replacing Cotton as iHeart’s Hawaiian Leader?

In February 1998, Chuck Cotton took on the role of President/GM of what was then AMFM Inc.’s Oahu-based Hawaiian radio stations.

He stayed through the company’s evolution to iHeartMedia, and was the leader of the company’s Honolulu station group in November 2020, when its top-rated Hawaiian Pop station found two of its morning show members in hot water for insensitive remarks made live on the air during a Thanksgiving fundraiser for the needy.

Cotton is now gone from KDDN-FM “Island 98.5” and iHeart’s other Hawaii radio brands. Succeeding him is a new Market President, who takes the role April 9.

Succeeding Cotton is Scott Hogle, who rises from SVP/Sales for the cluster, comprised of the aforementioned “Island 98.5,” heritage Adult Contemporary KSSK-AM & FM, Alternative KUCD-FM, News/Talk KHVH-AM, FOX Sports Radio affiliate KIKI-AM, Rhythmic Top 40 KUCD-FM “93.9 The Beat” and FM Translator “Pop! 99.1,” which is heavy on K-Pop and Asian pop music. He’ll work closely with the programming, business, and sales teams and oversee all of the station’s on‐air and digital programming as well as create new revenue opportunities. Hogle reports to iHeartMedia Markets Group Division President Tony Coles.

“Scott has been an integral part of our success in Honolulu for over 23 years,” Coles said. “His natural gift to connect and lead, his deep roots in the community, and relationships with our clients will enable Scott to build upon the incredible track record of our stations.”

Hogle, like Cotton, has been associated with the stations since 1998, just prior to AMFM Inc.’s sale to Clear Channel for $15.9 billion, consummated in October 1999. The stations entered the iHeart family via an April 1997 purchase of Patterson Broadcasting’s entire group of AM and FMs by Capstar Broadcasting Partners under Steve Hicks.

Hogle began his career in sales at WXRI-FM in Norfolk, which is today WNOH-FM.

Hogle is also the author of “PERSUADE, The 7 Empowering Laws of the SalesMaker,” and is a motivational teacher on the subjects of sales and leadership, both domestically and internationally.

“It’s a great honor to lead the A‐Team for iHeartMedia in Honolulu,” Hogle said. “Nothing is more rewarding than living in paradise and leading for a company like iHeart that embraces our local culture, community, and customers. It’s empowering for us as a team to work for the leader in the media marketplace and love what you do at the same time.”

Hogle is also heavily involved in his community, and is an Executive Board Member for Youth with a Mission. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Salvation Army of Honolulu.

The iHeart statement noting Hogle’s promotion did not address Cotton’s departure after 23 years. Under Hogle’s leadership, KDDN came under fire for comments made during a charity radiothon by morning hosts “Slick Vic” Harris and “KreyZ” Oshiro, in response to a local musician’s tale of homelessness and hunger.

The situation was addressed internally, Cotton said in a statement released at the time; the hosts were fired from the “Island 98.5 Wake Up Crew.” Cotton apologized to the local Hawaiian music artist, Paula Fuga, in person.

— Additional reporting by Amber Hunt, on Maui