Since the story was written in 2012 KJ Holiday (Keith Jackson / Kevin Jefferson): multiple trade and obituary notices report that he died (heart attack reported in industry coverage), so he is no longer living.
Vote for 2012 Radio Facts Top 20 Urban and Urban AC Programmers
Radio Facts, is hosting the first annual ORIGINAL contest to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Black and Urban AC programmers. We are proud to, once again, be FIRST in creative ways to lead the Black industry. This contest is NOT about ratings, it’s about how well you do your job; we understand that does not always translate into high ratings.
The industry votes for the programmers: Is the PD easy to work with? How do the labels feel about working with this PD? Is the PD creative? Is he or she cooperative and fair? Does the staff feel this PD is a great leader? Does this PD have an open-door policy? Does the PD delegate well? Is the PD willing to work with industry people? Is the PD available and does he or she return calls? Is the PD responsible? You get the picture. All voters’ info will be kept confidential; we may, however, use your positive quotes without mentioning your name. We will not post negative quotes (unless it’s a PD we don’t like… just joking, we like 99.9% of all Black PDs). Here are the rules: You can only vote for a CURRENT (working) programmer. You may vote for more than one PD but more than 5 votes and all of your votes are disqualified. If we are missing any names or a PD on our list is not currently working let us know ASAP so that we can fix it.
#20 Andre Marcel
Andre Marcel is part of the next wave of urban programmers, known inside the industry for hands-on work with talent, music flow, and community presence. Even without a lot of corporate press ink, he has earned a reputation among label reps and peers as a responsive programmer who understands how to balance street and mainstream.
#19 Joe Booker
Joe Booker combines programmer and on-air chops, bringing a jock’s ear and a PD’s discipline to his station. Colleagues and industry partners know him as a relationship-driven leader who keeps lines open to labels and artists while still making tough calls for the brand.
#18 Jeff Anderson
Jeff Anderson has been steadily building his name on the programming side, trusted by labels and mixshow DJs as someone who listens but ultimately programs based on research and gut. His day-to-day role guiding music, clocks, and talent has made him one of those PDs other programmers quietly watch.
#17 Hurricane Dave
“Hurricane” Dave Smith is Operations Manager for Radio One Atlanta and Program Director for WHAT Hot 107.9, overseeing one of the most visible hip-hop brands in the South. With experience in multiple markets, he is known for tight imaging, strong promotion ideas, and a willingness to engage directly with artists, DJs, and the streets.
#16 Derrick Corbett
Derrick Corbett is a Clear Channel operations and programming leader with responsibilities across multiple stations. In addition to his corporate duties, he is recognized as a programmer who understands both national strategy and local execution, making him a go-to voice inside the company when it comes to urban formats.
#15 Chris Conners
Chris Conners has logged years in Urban and Urban AC programming and is respected for keeping his stations sounding local, relevant, and adult without losing energy. He has a reputation among staffers as an accessible PD who will coach talent but also give them room to develop their own sound.
#14 Stan Branson
Stan Branson is a veteran R&B programmer with deep roots in his market and long-standing relationships with both legacy artists and new acts. Over the years he has been the steady hand behind stations that matter in their communities, and 2012 finds him still in the chair, still shaping what grown folks hear every day.
#13 Aundre Carson
Andre (Aundre) Carson recently completed a strong run as Operations Manager at heritage urban station Hot 103 Jamz (KPRS) in Kansas City, one of Black radio’s landmark brands. His time there built on KPRS’s history as the oldest continuously Black-owned and programmed FM in the country and helped position the station for its current era.
#12 Reggie Rouse
Reggie Rouse serves as Vice President of Urban Programming for CBS Radio and Program Director for V-103 and WAOK in Atlanta, giving him one of the most powerful seats in Black radio. He oversees a cluster that includes marquee personalities like Frank Ski and Big Tigger and has turned V-103 into a benchmark for how a major-market urban station should sound.
#11 Colby Colb
Colby “Colby Colb” Tyner brings a long résumé of major-market PD work and is now moving into higher-level programming leadership. From his earlier days programming in markets like Cleveland to his current corporate role, he has been known as both a programmer’s programmer and an air talent who understands how to connect with listeners.
#10 George Cook
George “Geo” Cook is Program Director at KKDA K104 in Dallas and also works as a media consultant, giving him influence beyond a single frequency. He is known for sharp music strategy, strong promotions, and the ability to keep a heritage hip-hop/R&B station sounding current while respecting its legacy.
#9 Al Payne
Al Payne is a multi-market urban programmer whose career includes key roles with Radio One and other operators. He has built a rep as a PD who will answer the phone, give independent and major label reps a fair listen, and still protect the integrity of his station’s sound.
#8 Terri Avery
Terri Avery has worn a lot of hats over the years, including program director and operations roles in Urban and Urban AC, with experience in markets such as Charlotte. Her calling card is coaching: she is widely regarded as a programmer who can develop air talent and help them grow into market-leading personalities.
#7 Maxx Myrick
Maxx Myrick is a long-time urban programmeR&Brand builder with major-market experience across hip-hop and R&B formats. He has helped shape the identities of several stations over the years and is known for his ear for talent and his understanding of how to package a station so it cuts through in crowded markets.
#6 Elroy Smith
Elroy Smith is one of the most decorated names in Black radio programming, best known for his long, award-winning run at WGCI in Chicago and later leadership roles at Radio One’s gospel cluster in Philadelphia. His résumé includes Urban Programmer of the Year honors and a Marconi-winning station, and his influence on how urban stations are programmed has been felt nationwide.
#5 Skip Dillard (WBLS and WLIB)
Skip Dillard is Program Director and Operations Manager for WBLS and WLIB in New York, overseeing a legendary Urban AC and Gospel combo in the nation’s biggest market. Under his guidance, WBLS continues to be a core voice for Black New York, balancing classic and current R&B while WLIB serves a devoted gospel audience.
#4 Myron Fears
Myron Fears is Operations Manager and Program Director for Carter Broadcast Group’s Hot 103 Jamz (KPRS-FM) and Gospel 1590 (KPRT-AM) in Kansas City. Elevated from music director to operations manager in 2011, he now carries the responsibility of guiding the nation’s oldest continuously Black-owned and programmed FM into its next chapter.
#3 KJ Holiday
KJ Holiday serves as Director of Urban Programming for Clear Channel’s WJLB-FM 97.9 and WMXD-FM 92.3 in Detroit, giving him control over both mainstream urban and Urban AC in a key music market. Artists and labels alike see him as a crucial gatekeeper for R&B and hip-hop in the Motor City.
#2 Derrick Brown
Derrick Brown is Director of Urban Programming for Clear Channel Chicago, overseeing powerhouses WGCI and WVAZ (V103). Under his leadership, V103 has become one of the country’s most successful Urban AC stations, and his work with both brands makes him one of the most influential programmers in the Midwest.
#1 Doc Wynter
Doc Wynter has been with Clear Channel for more than two decades and has spent over 13 years in a corporate Brand Manager role for the company’s hip-hop and R&B stations. While helping to guide the overall urban strategy nationwide, he has also played a hands-on role at stations like New York’s Power 105.1, making him one of the most powerful and respected urban programmers in the business.