CHICAGO — For 33 years, he was associated with “B96,” the rhythmic Top 40 station serving the Windy City that Audacy Inc. acquired through its tax-free merger with CBS Radio. In October 2024, this programming veteran joined Cumulus Media to direct what comes out of the speakers at WLS-FM 94.7, freshening up its Classic Hits sound.
Now, Todd Cavanah is being rewarded with a corporate-level role.
He’s now filling the position of VP of Classic Hits for the company, and will provide “content counsel” for some 24 Classic Hits stations owned by the company, including KCMO-FM in Kansas City and KRUZ-FM in Santa Barbara, Calif., among other properties.
It is a newly created position, and Cavanah will report to Cumulus Media Chief Content Officer Brian Philips while retaining his Program Director duties for WLS-FM.
Cavanah is a Chicago radio veteran, and has also directed the programming for WUSN “US99,” the market’s Country station, as well as for WBMX “104.3 Jams,” a hip-hop throwback FM. He’s also been in the record industry, working at Elektra Records.
“Todd is a respected long-time winner, and a force of nature,” Philips said. “He has radically re-energized WLS-FM, putting it back on top in Chicago. Todd is a natural fit to lead our Classic Hits formats, a prime example of the caliber of talent that Cumulus can bring to our most competitive markets.”
Cavanah commented, “It has been just over a year since I landed at Cumulus, and I am proud of the job our team has done taking 94.7 WLS to the top of the Chicago ratings. I am grateful to the company for allowing me the freedom to reinvent the Classic Hits format, and I’m eager to collaborate with the Cumulus fleet.”
