One of Utah radio’s most recognizable programmers isn’t leaving Salt Lake City after all. He’s simply changing jerseys.
After spending more than a quarter-century helping build some of the market’s biggest brands at iHeartMedia, Jeff McCartney is joining Cumulus Media as Operations Manager for its Salt Lake City cluster. The move instantly gives Cumulus one of the most experienced programmers in the state—and perhaps one of its biggest competitive advantages.
Jeff McCartney will now oversee CHR Power 94.9/101.9 (KENZ/KHTB) and Rock powerhouse 101.1 KBER, two stations that suddenly have a programmer with decades of institutional knowledge about exactly what Salt Lake listeners respond to.
McCartney isn’t an outsider learning the market.
He helped define it.
For years, he was the architect behind the success of 97.1 ZHT (KZHT) at iHeartMedia, while also playing key roles with stations including 94.1 KODJ and My 99.5 KJMY. He eventually rose to Senior Vice President of Programming before departing the company in 2024.
Before Utah became home, McCartney sharpened his skills in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, building a reputation as both a talent developer and a brand strategist.
His arrival at Cumulus also reunites him with Market Manager Joyce Wirthlin, a longtime colleague who knows exactly what he brings to the table.
And here’s where the story gets interesting.
McCartney is filling the opening created when Rick Vaughn left Cumulus last year to take over McCartney’s former role at iHeart. In other words, two of Salt Lake radio’s biggest companies essentially swapped quarterbacks.
Coincidence?
Maybe.
Strategic chess move?
Possibly.
What happens next will be worth watching.
Does Power get more aggressive in the CHR battle? Does KBER lean harder into its heritage rock identity? Are there talent tweaks ahead? Fresh imaging? Bigger promotions? New energy?
Nobody’s saying.
But when a programmer with McCartney’s track record takes over two major stations in a market he’s known for nearly 30 years, people notice.
Salt Lake radio just added another layer to one of the West’s most fascinating competitive battles.
And if you’re a rival station in town, you’re probably paying very close attention.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.