Steel Named PD of Hot 107.9/Atlanta
• Radio One Urban WHTA (Hot 107.9)/Atlanta has named format veteran Devin Steel as its new PD as the station celebrates 25 years of service. “We just signed one of the best coaches in the country,” said Tim Davies, RVP/GM of Radio One Atlanta. Derek Harper, OM of Urban One Atlanta, commented, “Devin’s reputation in the industry for being a smart, aggressive programmer made him our No. 1 choice out of a very talented pool of candidates. We look forward to shaking up the market and delivering the best entertainment experience for fans of Hot 107.9.”
Steel is a 25-year radio pro who was most recently SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Memphis and PD/afternoon talent at Hip-Hop/R&B WHRK (K97), until last July, when he exited after a successful 20-year run due to those industrywide COVID-19-related budget cuts. Steel began his commercial radio career in Memphis in 1997 at Flinn Broadcasting’s KXHT (Hot 107.1). In 2000 he crossed the street to then Clear Channel-owned WHRK (K97) as APD/afternoons under Nate Bell. In 2004 Steel was upped to PD of K97, and the following year was promoted to Director of Urban Programming for K97, KJMS (V101), WHAL (95.7 Hallelujah FM) and 1070 WDIA, and since 2011 Steel had served as SVP of Programming for all seven iHeartMedia Memphis brands.
Steel remarked, “I’m honored to lead an incredibly talented team at WHTA, Hot 107.9 and help build on the iconic 25-year history of success. Atlanta is the epicenter for culture and I’m excited to jump in and get to work. I want to thank Tim Davies and Derek Harper for their guidance and look forward to working closely with them both. I also want to thank Colby Colb, Vice President of Programming, Urban One for his vision and for providing me the opportunity to charter a new chapter in my career.” Steel succeeds Tap Money, who departed last month.
