Rick Thomas joins Malama Media Group as Senior VP of Programming. The veteran radio executive brings decades of multi-market expertise to Hawaii’s newest premier radio cluster.
What We Know: Malama Media Group welcomed Thomas to lead programming strategy across its Hawaii cluster and future acquisitions. His resume spans some of radio’s most competitive markets. Additionally, he’s programmed iconic stations in New York and Los Angeles. Moreover, his background includes top-rated success at KYLD/San Francisco, KSFM/Sacramento, and the Beasley Tampa cluster. Previously, Thomas served as VP of Programming for Ohana Broadcasting Honolulu, so he knows the market well.
What They Said: Josh Villa, Managing Partner and Market President, emphasized Thomas’s broad expertise. “When you look at the breadth of what Rick has accomplished, from programming iconic stations in New York and Los Angeles to leading multi-format clusters in some of the country’s most competitive markets, you’re looking at someone who truly knows how to build winning brands and winning teams,” Villa stated. Monroe Greer, General Managing Partner, highlighted their shared history. “Rick and I go back 45 years. We came up together at XHTZ in San Diego, crossed paths again at KOY-FM in Phoenix, and then again at XHRM in San Diego,” Greer reflected. Thomas expressed his enthusiasm: “Coming back to Hawaii feels like coming home. I raised my family in Honolulu. I have a special love for creating great radio and serving the people here.”
What Remains Unclear: Exactly how Thomas will reshape existing programming across the cluster remains to be seen. Further details about acquisition strategies and timeline are forthcoming. The specific format priorities for future multi-market growth haven’t been announced. Listeners will watch closely how station lineups evolve under his leadership.
What It Means: Rick Thomas’s reputation as a free thinker paired with Malama Media Group’s forward-thinking approach could create a potent combination. Innovation typically flourishes when bold programming executives meet ambitious ownership willing to take calculated risks. This hire signals the company isn’t interested in status quo radio—they’re building something different. Time will reveal whether this partnership transforms Hawaii’s competitive radio landscape.
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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.