Shimer Rises Co-Host Lehigh Valley-Poconos’ Top-Rated Morning Show With Heritage Morning Host, Rick Michaels

ALLENTOWN, PA, February 11, 2021 — Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted Joel Shimer to Co-Host for the top-rated morning show in Allentown, PA, The HAWK Morning Show, on Classic Rock station, 99.9 The HAWK/WODE-FM. Shimer debuted as Co-Host alongside Rick Michaels, popular Morning Host and show lead, on Monday, February 8, 2021. He will continue to serve as Producer for the show. The program also updates its brand to The HAWK Morning Show with Rick and Joel. Shimer joined 99.9 The HAWK in late 2016 during his senior year of high school and has served as Producer of The HAWK Morning Show since May 2019. The HAWK Morning Show with Rick and Joel can be heard Monday through Friday from 5:30am-9:00am on 99.9 The HAWK.

Elizabeth Pembleton, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Lehigh Valley-Poconos, said: “I couldn’t be more excited about the evolution of The HAWK Morning Show with Rick and Joel! I’m so proud of Joel and he is the perfect example of how young talent is being developed under the tutelage of our incredibly talented programming team at Cumulus and his amazing veteran morning host, Rick Michaels.

Sal Palazzolo, Program Director, 99.9 The HAWK/WODE-FM, commented: “Joel is an excellent example of how hard work pays off. Joel joined our team back in the fall of 2016 and worked his way through the ranks of Promotions, Production, and Part-Time On-Air work, quickly becoming Producer of The Hawk Morning Show with Rick Michaels. By pairing Joel on-air with our heritage Morning Host, Rick Michaels, It will only help take The HAWK to new heights! Once we put them together in the room, we knew we had something truly special and unique. It’s great to curate the next generation of talent like Joel to invest in the future of our business.”    

Joel Shimer remarked: “I am thrilled to continue my contribution to the success of The Hawk Morning Show. I still have to PINCH myself that I now get to work on the show I grew up listening to every morning! Special thanks to Sal Palazzolo, Jerry Padden and Liz Pembleton.“

For more information, visit: https://www.999thehawk.com/.

ABOUT Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) is a leading audio-first media and entertainment 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 416 owned-and-operated stations across 85 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the Masters, the Olympics, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across nearly 8,000 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through 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 on-air 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.

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