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Bruce Warren, longtime programmer at Adult Alternative WXPN Philadelphia (88.5), will step down in January 2025 and enter a phased retirement following his departure.
Warren has been with the station for 36 years, playing a pivotal role as one of the founding producers of NPR’s syndicated program “World Cafe.” His extensive experience includes serving as Program Director/Music Director, Executive Producer, and Assistant Station Manager for Programming.
Starting in January, Warren will step back from his role as Program Director but will remain part of WXPN. He will continue to host his Saturday radio show, serve as Executive Producer for “World Cafe,” and oversee WXPN’s ongoing digital and social media advancements.
Warren said, “For my entire life here at XPN, it’s always been about the journey of building discovery through our programming—whether on XPN, nationally on World Cafe, through our festivals, Free At Noons, streaming, videos, or social platforms. Watching indie artists build their audiences and seeing the joy our community gets from the music has been the most rewarding part.”
“Bruce has been the heart and guiding voice of an incredible programming team for over three decades,” WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay said in the announcement. “His creativity, vision, and unwavering dedication to music and the artists we champion have elevated this station to a national treasure.”
Starting in January, APD Jim McGuinn will assume the position of Acting Program Director. McGuinn rejoined the station in August 2022 and served as Program Director at “89.3 The Current” KCMP in Minneapolis from 2009 until his departure in April 2022.
With an extensive background in the market, he also hosted the afternoon show at WXPN from 2007 to 2009 while programming the online radio station “Y-Rock on XPN.” McGuinn was the Program Director for the former Philly modern rock station WDRE until it signed off in 1996 and led “Y100” WPLY from 1997 until 2004, when the station ceased operations.
