What is a Radio Program Director?

Have you ever complained about the play list from your local radio station? Ever been annoyed by a loudmouthed DJ or felt like, if only you were in charge, you could do things so much better? If so, you might want to consider a career as a radio station program director.

Everyone knows that radio stations have a certain repertoire of music they're allowed to play, and that the selection you'll hear varies depending on the time of day you tune in. But the truth is that there's a method to the madness, and behind all of the programming is a mastermind known as the program director.

Every radio station, whether it's low-key talk radio or a hardcore rap channel, has an image they want to project. Oftentimes, the decision of what that image should be is made by the parent company that owns the station, which in turn bases the decision on the tastes of the target demographic. But the radio station program director is the one in charge of ensuring that each part of the station's programming carries out the final goal.

Radio station program directors are responsible for fine-tuning the details of programming. They're responsible for setting up DJs, deciding who goes on the air at what times, and making changes to schedules and play lists that don't work. Their role is essential in making sure new music makes it into the rotation, and the position calls for careful attention to what the public wants. When you factor in the deals made between the station and record labels to ensure that certain songs get played a certain number of times a day, that's all in a day's work for a program director.