Kelly Ransford

Kelly Ransford, a veteran of album adult alternative radio stations in San Francisco, Seattle and Denver, is joining WXRT FM 93.1 as music director.

She succeeds John Farneda, who stepped down last month as operations manager and music director after 31 years at the CBS Radio station.

A Chicago native who began her career at CBS Radio Top 40 WBBM FM 96.3, Ransford is a former assistant program director and music director at KFOG in San Francisco. She most recently was promotions director at KMTT and KNDD in Seattle.

In announcing Ransford’s hiring, effective January 5, Norm Winer, vice president of adult rock programming for CBS Radio and program director of WXRT, cited her “excellent reputation throughout the industry for her integrity, her work ethic, easy-going personality, her knowledge and passion for music and radio, and her straightforward approach as a communicator.”

In a relative move, Mitch Rosen, longtime program chief of CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670, added oversight of WXRT to his duties with his promotion last month to operations director for the Score and WXRT.

Here is the text of the memo from Winer to the staff:

I’d like to keep my colleagues’ holiday spirits bright with the eagerly awaited announcement that Kelly Ransford has been named as the next XRT Music Director.

Kelly has impressive major market experience at some of the leading Adult Alternative stations in the country, including KBCO/Denver-Boulder, KFOG/San Francisco., and KMTT/Seattle. She has an excellent reputation throughout the industry for her integrity, her work ethic, easy-going personality, her knowledge and passion for music and radio, and her straightforward approach as a communicator. She is accomplished and experienced in multiple skill-sets, with her background including decision-making roles in programming as KFOG APD and Music Director (2005-2011), as well as serving as Marketing & Promotions Director for KNDD & KMTT/Seattle (2011-13), KFOG (2000-2005), and KOA/Denver (1997-2000).  Kelly rose through the ranks at every station she has worked, reflecting both her ambition and her vast potential.

As a native Chicagoan, ready to move into a new job, a new office, and back into her old apartment in Lakeview, I’m confident that her transition to life at XRT will be virtually seamless. Especially with all of us making her feel right at home.

Please join me in welcoming Kelly to the XRT family. Her first official day will be January 5. 

Happy Holidays everybody!
Norm