JJ Hale has left Total Media as Director of Programming. Now Seven Mountains Media welcomes him to lead its Parkersburg cluster.
What We Know Hale resigned from his Director of Programming role at Total Media in Jackson, OH. Now he leads programming operations across Seven Mountains Media’s six-station Parkersburg-Marietta cluster. The group spans multiple formats including Country, Active Rock, Classic Country, Classic Rock, Top 40, and Classic Hits. Additionally, Hale serves as day-to-day PD and drive host for Froggy 95.
What’s at Stake This move shapes strategic programming direction across multiple formats. Indeed, successful radio clusters require experienced leadership to maximize revenue potential. Therefore, Hale’s background becomes critical in coordinating station performance. Moreover, operational consistency directly impacts listener loyalty and market share.
What Remains Unclear Nobody yet knows the exact timing of his transition. However, the group hasn’t announced specific programming changes for individual stations. Additionally, Hale hasn’t outlined his strategic vision for market growth.
What It Means For Hale, this represents a remarkable full-circle moment in his career. He listened to 95 XIL growing up as the market’s dominant station. Notably, he worked there part-time during the 1980s. Now, decades later, he returns to manage the legendary station and its cluster as a key leader.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.