ATLANTA, GA –  September 12, 2023 — Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) announces that it has appointed Melissa Forrest as Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Atlanta. Forrest joins Cumulus Media from iHeartMedia San Diego, where she has been President since 2012, and was also over the Riverside, CA, region from 2016-2018. Prior to that, Forrest was Atlanta Market Manager for iHeartMedia/Clear Channel Radio from 2008-2012 and was Vice President/Market Manager for Entercom Communications in Austin, TX, and Seattle, WA, from 2004-2008.

Forrest holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and earned a BSBA degree in Marketing & Management from the University of Missouri. She has been honored by Radio Ink magazine for multiple years as one of the Best Managers in Radio and as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Radio. Forrest has also been a fixture on the San Diego 500 Influential Business Leaders list for multiple consecutive years. She has served the community and industry on numerous boards of directors throughout her career, including the Southern California Broadcasters Association, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, and the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation. She was also a member of the Sustainability & Industry Committee for the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.

Dave Milner, President, Operations, Cumulus Media, said: “Melissa is a high energy leader, with a track record of transforming business organizations into highly successful operations. We are extremely excited to welcome her as VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Atlanta and have full confidence in her ability to maximize our outstanding assets in this key market.”

Melissa Forrest commented: “I have embraced many markets during my career, but I look forward to returning home to Atlanta. The opportunity to work with Dave and the entire Cumulus Atlanta team makes this homecoming even more meaningful.” 

Cumulus Media owns and operates four popular radio stations in the Atlanta market, including: New Country 101.FIVE/WKHX-FM (Country); 99X/WNNX-FM (Classic Rock); Q99.7/WWWQ-FM (CHR); and OG 97.9/WWWQ-H3 (Urban/Classic Hip Hop).

About Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 403 owned-and-operated radio stations across 85 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across more than 9,400 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the Cumulus Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. Cumulus Media is the only audio media company to provide marketers with local and national advertising performance guarantees. For more information visit www.cumulusmedia.com.

Contact: Lisa Dollinger, Dollinger Strategic Communication for Cumulus Media, 512.633.4084, lisa@dollcomm.com.