Location: PO Box 90, Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: 360-636-0110
Cell: 503-840-9931
About Me
John Paul started his career in the 8th grade at KLOG/KUKN in Longview/Kelso, WA as the janitor and part time board op. During high school he moved himself up to afternoons and while in college John was the Assistant Program Director/Promotions Director. When John turned 21, he moved to Columbus/Bloomington, Indiana for his first programming job at WKKG. While there, the company grew and so did his roll. When he left three years later, he was programming three stations for the company in two different markets. In 1998, John moved to Buffalo to work for CBS Radio. There he programmed Country WYRK and WBUF (various formats while there).
In 2005, CBS Radio transferred John to Portland, OR to Program Country KUPL (a personal goal he had since the 5th grade). John was there until CBS sold to cluster to Alpha Broadcasting in 2009. After leaving KUPL, John went to work for Jaye Albright at Albright and O’Malley Country Consulting. There he did talent coaching and worked on special projects with radio stations all over North America.
In 2010, Dial Global Radio Networks (now Westwood One) hired John to oversee all the 24/7 music formats as the VP/Programming based in Denver, CO. While there, John grew to oversee not just the formats but all things in the country format including all the shows and specials. He was responsible for nearly 20 million listeners a week.
Always wanting to eventually own his own stations, John started a conversation with KLOG/KUKN station owner Joel Hanson about moving back home and transitioning into ownership of the cluster. In August of 2014, John moved his family back to Longview, WA to become the GM of KLOG/KUKN where his career started. He and his wife now own the three stations where he got his start in the business.
He has been a board member of the CMA as well as on the Advisory Board for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He was elected twice as the Chairman of the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. Locally, John was the President of the Longview Rotary Club as well as board President of The United Way. He’s also been a board member of Lower Columbia Contractors Association and the Lower Columbia College Foundation as well as The Board Chairman of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters for two years.
He’s married to Nicki and they have three children.
My Market
We are located about an hour north of Portland, OR in Longview/Kelso, WA. We are right on the Washington/Oregon border along the Columbia River. The market is about 110,000 and there are eight radio stations. I own three and our other competitor is Bicoastal Media and they own five. Our group is 100% locally programmed with no outside network syndication.
My Stations
We have Classic Hits 100.7, KLOG, which is all local news/information/sports in the morning, then Classic Hits all day.
We also own Cookin' Country 105.5, KUKN, which is the market leading radio station and is #1 in nearly every demo and demographic.
Our third station is Solid Rock, 101.5 The Blitz. It's a Mainstream Rock Station on the translator to KUKN and covers the market.
In addition tot he three stations, I also own Cowlitz Digital, which is a Digital Marketing Agency, as well as The Cowlitz Podcast Network, which is a company that produces and distributes locally produced Podcasts.