He’s been an integral part of what comes out of the speakers for two prominent radio stations owned by Hubbard Radio. Now, after six years, the privately owned company based in Minneapolis has started a nationwide search for Jimmy Steal‘s successor in the Windy City.
Steal has announced that he will step down as VP of Brand and Content for Hot Adult Contemporary WTMX “The Mix” and ’90s/2000s-focused WTBC-FM 100.3 at the end of the year.
Steal said, “When I arrived in Chicago, I signed a three-year deal. This December, it’ll be six years. What a blessing to work with our amazing Hubbard Chicago teams. I couldn’t be prouder of all we’ve achieved.”
Steal thanked Vice President and Market Manager Keith Lawless, company EVP of Programming Greg Strassell, and CEO Ginny Morris for “this wonderful experience.”
That said, Steal’s tenure included a rocky period for “The Mix,” as morning host Eric Ferguson exited in 2021 after highly publicized sexual misconduct allegations and multiple lawsuits against him clouded the station’s image. Former morning show producer Cynthia DeNicolo dropped her lawsuit; former co-host Melissa McGurren’s $10 million defamation lawsuit against Ferguson was dismissed in 2022 by a federal judge. Ferguson’s two-year agreement to stay off of Chicago airwaves concluded several months ago.
Meanwhile, WTBC settled on its “Throwback 100.3″ branding in May 2024, after a format shift in May 2022 to its current music mix.
Lawless called Steal “an exceptional content leader that makes everyone around him better. His leadership has impacted our entire team at Hubbard Chicago.”
Where is Steal heading? He’s returning to Austin to launch a new consultancy. And, Lawless confirms that Hubbard Chicago will be a client.
