Jason Pullman, who lost his job two years ago at 94.9/The Bull after a decade as morning host, is back on Atlanta radio on rival country station New Country 101.5 as afternoon host.
Pullman is now on from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, taking over for Corey Dylan, who recently departed to work mornings at a pop station in San Diego, 100.7 Big-FM (KFBG-FM).
Sean Shannon, the market manager of Atlanta-based Cumulus Media, said the company is revamping both its country station and pop station Q99.7 to focus more on local personalities throughout the day, not just mornings. Even though the pandemic has made revenue generation more difficult and many Atlanta stations have trimmed their budgets, Shannon said the company is committed to investing money in personalities that can draw listeners and advertisers.
Pullman, who graduated Roswell High School in 1991, was recently hired to do afternoons at Cumulus’ country station the Bull in Dallas. So he will do two shifts a day for two different stations. He plans to live primarily in Dallas but will travel regularly to Atlanta for New Country events and sales calls.
“We’re hoping to capitalize on his personality,” said program director Mike Moore, who joined the station in 2019 when it changed its name from Kicks. “We’re trying to differentiate ourselves from other stations in the market and Pandora and Spotify and the Apple Musics of the world. Jason is well-versed in the country world, and he knows Atlanta well. We’re going to give him a larger dance floor than we’d typically give a midday host.”
Rival the Bull has been regularly beating New Country in the ratings over the past year. During the most recent monthly Nielsen ratings, the Bull (with a 3.8 share) was comfortably ahead of New Country (2.9).
Sister pop station Q99.7 this week also dropped midday host Rachel Ryan and afternoon host Adam Bomb. Program director Louis Diaz said replacements will be named next week.
