Zimmer Communications Just Made One Hell of a Hire and Mike Stern Is the Reason Why

From the Publisher | Steven D. Mills | On The Dial

Zimmer Communications just made a move that ought to get the attention of every broadcaster who still believes great radio begins with great programming, and I couldn’t be happier about the man they’ve chosen. Mike Stern, one of the industry’s most respected programming minds and someone I’ve had the pleasure of knowing personally, has been named Corporate Director of Programming for Zimmer’s Missouri operations. After thirteen years with Jacobs Media and a career that has taken him through some of America’s most competitive radio markets, Stern is bringing his experience, instincts, and understanding of what makes radio connect with listeners to Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield.

And I’m going to tell you something right now.

Zimmer didn’t just hire a programming executive. They brought in somebody who understands the difference between operating a radio station and making one worth listening to.

That’s a distinction this industry desperately needs to remember.

Stern’s résumé reads like a tour through some of the most demanding programming environments in American broadcasting.

Before his thirteen-year tenure with Jacobs Media, he served as Vice President of Programming for Emmis Radio in Chicago, with additional programming experience at Saga in Milwaukee, Emmis in Denver, and CBS Radio operations in Detroit and Las Vegas.

Those aren’t exactly markets where you can throw a few songs into a computer, slap together a catchy slogan, and expect everybody to applaud.

Chicago will humble you.

Detroit will challenge you.

Las Vegas will keep you on your toes.

And Milwaukee? Well, if you can survive a Wisconsin winter and a programming meeting in the same week, you’ve already demonstrated remarkable endurance.

But Stern’s value goes far beyond the markets listed on his résumé.

He understands programming strategy, music, talent development, audience behavior, and the importance of creating radio that actually means something to the people listening.

At Jacobs Media, he spent more than a decade working in an environment known for examining how audiences consume media and how broadcasters can respond to changing technology and listener expectations.

Now he gets to take that experience and put it to work inside a radio company.

And that’s where things get interesting.

I don’t usually make myself part of somebody else’s professional announcement, but this particular story deserves a little personal history.

I’ve known Mike Stern for years, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.

In 2015, Mike, along with Fred and Paul Jacobs, recognized me with an award for my product, Survivor Radio.

That moment has stayed with me.

Not simply because receiving an award feels good, although I certainly wasn’t about to turn it down.

It mattered because the recognition came from people whose opinions I respected, people who understood radio, innovation, and the value of trying to create something meaningful in an industry that doesn’t always make room for new ideas.

Survivor Radio was important to me.

Having Mike and the Jacobs brothers recognize that work meant something.

And more than a decade later, I haven’t forgotten it.

That’s one of the things I love about broadcasting.

The relationships.

The encouragement.

The people who take a moment to recognize somebody else’s work, even when they have absolutely nothing to gain from doing so.

Mike was part of one of those moments in my career.

So yes, I’m proud to see him take this next step.

And yes, I’m going to celebrate it.

In his new position, Stern will oversee programming, music, and on-air strategy for Zimmer’s stations in Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield, Missouri.

He’ll work alongside Corporate Operations Director Trevor Morgan and General Manager Carla Leible as the company continues developing its programming operations.

That gives Zimmer a leadership combination with the opportunity to strengthen station identities, develop personalities, and build deeper connections with local audiences.

And let’s be clear about something.

Markets like Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield matter.

They’re not consolation prizes for broadcasters who couldn’t get a job in New York or Los Angeles.

They’re communities where radio still has an opportunity to be personal, local, influential, and deeply connected to everyday life.

A great local morning show can become part of a family’s routine.

A talented afternoon personality can make a difficult commute easier.

A well-programmed music station can become the soundtrack to an entire community.

Those things still matter.

And the people making programming decisions have an enormous influence over whether those connections grow stronger or slowly disappear.

The future of radio won’t be decided exclusively in corporate boardrooms. It will also be decided in local studios by people who understand the communities they’re serving.

That’s why I like this appointment.

Stern brings national experience into an environment where local execution can make a tremendous difference.

I’ve spent enough years in broadcasting to recognize when the industry starts confusing cost management with programming strategy.

We talk about efficiencies.

We talk about consolidation.

We talk about technology.

We talk about how many stations one person can oversee before somebody finally notices they’re answering three different studio phones simultaneously.

But great radio still requires judgment.

It requires creativity.

It requires understanding why one song belongs next to another, why a personality connects with listeners, and why a station’s identity should mean something beyond whatever slogan happens to be printed on the promotional tent.

Technology can help deliver the product.

Research can help guide decisions.

But somebody still has to understand the audience.

And somebody has to know how to turn all that information into radio people actually want to hear.

You can automate a playlist. You cannot automate good judgment.

Mike Stern has spent a substantial part of his career studying and practicing that distinction.

And Zimmer now has the opportunity to benefit from it.

Mike, my friend, congratulations.

I remember the recognition you, Fred, and Paul gave Survivor Radio in 2015, and I remain grateful for it.

You’ve had an impressive career, you’ve worked with some outstanding people, and you’ve contributed to conversations about where broadcasting needs to go.

Now comes another opportunity to put that knowledge to work.

I hope you have an extraordinary run at Zimmer Communications.

And to the leadership at Zimmer, congratulations on bringing aboard someone with this level of experience.

You’ve made a significant investment in programming leadership, and I hope it pays dividends for your stations, your employees, and the communities you serve.

There’s plenty of uncertainty in broadcasting these days.

Plenty of challenging headlines.

Plenty of reasons for people to wonder what comes next.

But every once in a while, an announcement comes along that reminds me why I still love this business.

Good people getting good opportunities.

Experienced broadcasters being trusted to do what they do best.

And companies recognizing that programming deserves serious attention.

Mike Stern has spent years helping radio understand where it’s going. Now he gets to help Zimmer decide how to get there.

That’s exciting.

And from one broadcaster to another, from a friend who hasn’t forgotten a meaningful moment in 2015, and directly from the Publisher of On The Dial:

Mike, go make some great radio.

Missouri is about to get another dose of Stern programming.

And something tells me that’s going to be a very good thing.

Steven D. Mills
Publisher, On The Dial

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