She succeeded Walt “Baby” Love as Urban Editor of former radio industry trade publication Radio & Records and in the years since that role has excelled as one of the leading R&B and Hip-Hop programming executives in the business. Now, Kashon Powell is taking a key role for iHeartMedia in the nation’s No. 3 market.
Powell has been named VP of Programming for iHeartMedia in Chicago.
She’ll join the stations on August 18, overseeing Contemporary R&B WGCI-FM, Adult R&B WVAZ-FM, Black Gospel WGRB-AM and BIN: Black Information Network affiliate WMFN-AM.
Powell reports to SVP of Programming James Howard, and takes on two FMs that have somewhat lost their luster in recent years. While both stations are among the heritage “Urban” properties serving African American listeners across the U.S., WGCI and WVAZ each trail Audacy’s WBMX “104.3 Jams” by cume in the most recent Nielsen Audio ratings for Chicago. That said, both WGCI and WVAZ hold a substantial lead over two Crawford Broadcasting properties focused on Black audiences in Chicago.
Powell is a former VP of Programming at Urban One, and launched her career at KBXX-FM in Houston. She has more than three decades of experience in Radio, and the forthcoming role in Chicago is a return to iHeartMedia for Powell. After her time at R&R, she moved to Philadelphia to serve as Assistant PD/MD for heritage stations WDAS-FM and WUSL “Power 99.”
“Kashon has an exceptional track record of success, consistently driving results and inspiring teams,” said Howard. “We are thrilled to welcome her to our Chicago team where her expertise will help strengthen the connection with our listeners.”
The appointment of Powell comes as Derrick Brown has exited iHeartMedia/Chicago.
