AccuRadio poised for ‘explosive growth’ with Damsky

Michael Damsky

Michael Damsky, who headed two legendary radio stations in Chicago, is bringing his media experience and sales expertise to the digital world: On Thursday, he was named executive vice president/sales for AccuRadio, the Chicago-based provider of customizable online radio.

It marks a new career chapter for Damsky, 62, who most recently was president and general manager of news/talk WLS-AM (890) and oldies WLS-FM (94.7). His tenure there ended last March following the stations’ acquisition by Cumulus Media. He previously spent 24 years at CBS Radio adult rock WXRT-FM (93.1), where he rose up the sales ranks to become vice president and general manager.

Kurt Hanson, founder and CEO of AccuRadio, said the position created for Damsky was intended to help the company capitalize on the “explosive growth” it foresees in online radio, which is currently dominated by Pandora.

“It is our belief that AccuRadio, with its fully built-out platform for personalizable music channels, is well positioned to take a significantly increased share of this fast-growing market,” Hanson said in a statement. “With his proven ability to build a sales organization, Michael will help provide the increased revenue which we expect to fuel AccuRadio’s growth.”

Damsky’s appointment unites him with Hanson and a third radio industry titan, John Gehron, who is the company’s chief operating officer.

“This is a great opportunity to work with Kurt Hanson, whom I consider a visionary in the field, and John Gehron, one of radio’s most admired executives,” Damsky said Thursday. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to help them grow AccuRadio into a leadership position in what is clearly the most rapidly expanding sector of music listening.”

In his new role, Damsky will have the flexibility to work with traditional radio stations, as does Gehron, who also serves as chairman of the advisory board of Merlin Media. “My responsibilities here will utilize the experience I have acquired over the last 32 years, combined with the knowledge I am already gaining of a medium still in its infancy,” Damsky said.

Accuradio boasts hundreds of music channels encompassing dozens of genres, marketed as “the first multichannel Internet radio station designed specifically for adults with sophisticated musical tastes.” Listeners can customize each channel online and on various mobile apps.