Jim Ryan to Exit Audacy, Transition to Consultancy

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Jim Ryan

Jim Ryan, Senior Vice President of Programming at Audacy and daily programmer of Hot AC WNEW-FM (The New 102.7) in New York, has announced his departure from the company effective this April. Ryan will shift his focus to his consultancy, leveraging his extensive experience as he marks his 15th anniversary with the company.

Ryan's initial plan was to leave in December, but the introduction of Nielsen's new three-minute qualifier rule motivated him to extend his stay through one additional quarter. His tenure at Audacy has seen significant milestones, including a recent triumph where WNEW outperformed WLTW among their key demographic of women aged 25-54 in prime time in January.

"I'm so happy I stayed, as we've already seen WNEW beat WLTW with 25-54 women in prime in January, and when you can beat Lite-FM with their core target, it's a moment to savor," Ryan remarked.

Reflecting on his extensive career, Ryan added, "I've been blessed to work with the most legendary stations in our business since I arrived in New York in 1996, first with iHeart and WLTW, then CBS in 2010 to program WNEW and WCBS-FM. I'm happy to pass the baton to a respected and well-known colleague." While he did not reveal his successor, he confirmed that the announcement would be made soon.

Ryan also expressed his gratitude towards colleagues who have supported him throughout his journey, particularly highlighting Susan Larkin for her belief in his vision for 102.7 and Chris Oliviero for his exemplary leadership.

As he moves forward with Jim Ryan Media LLC, Ryan will continue his collaboration with national radio personality Delilah and looks to expand his reach to other talent, brands, and artists. For further inquiries or partnerships, Ryan can be contacted here.