Jon Zellner leaving SXM!!

[superfan]

Clear Channel Radio officials say the media company has named Jon Zellner, 43, to serve as senior vice president of programming.

Zellner, who is currently senior vice president of music programming at Sirius XM satellite radio, is expected to join Clear Channel on July 20.

Zellner will work with Clear Channel program directors in major and mid-sized U.S. markets. He will report to Mark Kopelman, executive vice president of operations for the San Antonio-based company.

“Radio has been my passion for as long as I can remember and a position like this at the leading radio company in the world is something I’ve worked toward since my start in broadcasting over 20 years ago,” Zellner says. “I’m humbled by the opportunity and ... I can’t wait to get started.”

At Sirius XM, Zellner has overseen programming for more than 75 channels. He previously served as XM’s executive vice president of programming.

He will oversee programming in more than two-dozen Clear Channel markets.

“Jon’s leadership and creativity are respected throughout radio,” Kopelman says. “The stations in these 25 markets have unique audiences and tremendous opportunities... .”

Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications Inc., a global media and entertainment company. Clear Channel Radio stations reach some 110 million listeners weekly.

[mrjukebox]

Hopefully,the person who takes Jon Zellner's position at Sirius XM will treat "AT40" better than he did.

[at40freak]

I hope this means the end of all the hacking away they've been doing to the show.

[Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever]

Isn't it something that Casey retires from actively counting down the hits for Premiere(which is a part of Clear Channel) just a week or two before Jon Zellner joins Clear Channel as Programming VP? Could this be a silent protest somehow of Casey over what he saw as the possibility that Zellner would butcher terrestrial versions of classic AT40 just like he did the SXM versions?

[mkarns]

Jul 21, 2009 15:29:13 GMT -5 Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever said:

Isn't it something that Casey retires from actively counting down the hits for Premiere(which is a part of Clear Channel) just a week or two before Jon Zellner joins Clear Channel as Programming VP? Could this be a silent protest somehow of Casey over what he saw as the possibility that Zellner would butcher terrestrial versions of classic AT40 just like he did the SXM versions?

That's most likely a coincidence, but I could certainly understand that concern. As it is, recently AT40 has been almost the only place on SXM 7 or 8 where we regularly get to hear songs that weren't major hits or haven't been deemed fit for regular present day rotation. (The 7 playlist does seem to be expanding slightly).

There seems to be somewhat less butchering lately, especially on 7, but I do find it a bit annoying to be hearing newly recorded promos by Casey with the "Shuckatoom" music backing them up several times randomly in each broadcast, especially in those which didn't originally use that theme.

[Scott Lakefield]

Hey, enjoy the "new Casey" material. Anything new from Casey, even if it's just a promo, is gold these days!

As for using the "Shuckatoom" theme, I don't really have a problem with that. Remember that on the original "Flashback" series, the Shuckatoom theme was used on every show open as well.