Formerly with Citadel Media, Rick Dees has moved his programming lineup 2/1 to Westwood One, including Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Top 20 countdowns for CHR, Hot AC, and Mainstream AC Stations. The new partnership with Dees Entertainment also adds a new roster of Rick Dees shows, including The Daily Dees, Rick Dees 80s at 8, Rick Dees 90s at 9, Weekly Top 40 (archives) and The Teen Top 20 with Kevin Dees.
Westwood One VP/Marketing & Communications Peter Sessa tells RBR-TVBR 31 Cumulus stations are picking up the existing countdowns, “…and we are also picking up the Citadel Media affiliates that carry the current countdown–and that totals over 180 stations.”
The move is immediate, as Dees is already off of the Citadel Media website. Sessa also said some 25 Cumulus Media stations have already signed on to air the new Dees programming which will be launched on 2/7.
ABC Radio Networks (now Citadel) had signed a development agreement with Dees Entertainment in late 2008, along with picking up Rick Dees Weekly Top 40. Dees has hosted that countdown show since 1983. Previous to Citadel, it was syndicated by with Dial-Global and before that, Premiere Radio Networks.
