Mitch Rosen

Chicago radio veteran Mitch Rosen, longtime program chief of CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670, is adding oversight of album adult alternative WXRT FM 93.1 to his duties.

Rosen’s promotion to operations director for the Score and WXRT was announced Monday by Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago. “The two stations have a long history of working together and Mitch’s organizational skills, management style and sales/NTR [non-traditional revenue] focus will help grow the great brand that is ’XRT,” Zimmerman told staffers in a memo.

Norm Winer, vice president of adult rock programming for CBS Radio, continues as program director of WXRT, the post he has held since 1979.

The move followed last week’s announcement of two key departures from WXRT — the resignation of John Farneda as operations manager and music director, and the resignation of Kristin Klimas as director of marketing and promotions. Zimmerman said the positions of music director and marketing director would be filled.

Rosen, 48, said he was honored to oversee both stations, adding: “To be working on a day-to-day basis with these two iconic Chicago brands is something a radio programmer like myself could only dream about. I look forward to working with all departments at XRT and with all of the platforms both digitally and over the air.  I’m also excited to be working with Norm, who is a radio legend.  The challenge ahead is exciting for me.”

A Chicago native, Rosen began his career at Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720 as producer for late-night radio king “Chicago Eddie” Schwartz in 1988. He followed Schwartz to the former WLUP AM in 1992, and later became program director of ESPN sports/talk WMVP AM 1000. He has been program director of the Score since 2005.

Under Rosen, the Score has remained dominant in its format. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, the station ranked third among men between 25 and 54 with a 4.4 percent share.

Here is the text of Zimmerman’s memo to the staff:

I’m pleased to announce Mitch Rosen has been named Operations Director for WSCR and WXRT.   Mitch will now oversee the Programing Departments for both stations.  The two stations have a long history of working together and Mitch’s organizational skills, management style and sales/NTR focus will help grow the great brand that is ’XRT.  Norm remains the Program Director responsible for all on-air elements and the brand development, while Mitch will concentrate on the Marketing, NTR and overall administrative side of operations.   Norm is currently working to replace Music Director John Farneda.  While we look to replace Kristin as Marketing Director, that job will become more NTR in nature and will report to both Mitch and NTR Director, Megan Jones.  Mitch and I will be in the ‘XRT Sales Meeting tomorrow morning to discuss more specifics of how this new team will operate. 
 
We all look forward to the continued success of Chicago’s Finest Rock, WXRT!