Bill HessVP/NewsTalk
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July 9, 2019
Bill HessIn a politically polarized environment, Talk radio never seems to run out of having something to argue or complain about. But as Cumulus Media VP/NewsTalk Bill Hess notes, there's a lot more to achieving success in the format than knowing your talking points. Here, he talks about how the format has evolved over the years, what really makes it work today, and how it will have to adapt to the inevitable changes in audience and platforms to succeed in the future.
Over your career, you've overseen music formats as well as Talk formats. What made you decide to focus your energies on News/Talk?
I had previously held jobs where I oversaw both music and Talk formats, but after I spent five years with Clear Channel in Washington, D.C. at WASH and WBIG,I realized I missed the Talk aspect. So when I got the opportunity to go to New York to be head of programming for Air America, I took it. It was a great opportunity for me to try another kind of Talk programming. Ultimately, it didn't work out but it was still a great experience that confirmed a Talk focus for the rest of my career.
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