Bill Vancil
Bill Vancil’s career as an immensely creative program director and general manager for Mid-West Family Broadcasting’s Madison stations included co-founding and creating Magic 98, an adult-contemporary format that delivered record-setting listenership and revenues. It’s a testament to Vancil’s legacy that Magic 98’s format and image endured for several decades. He also programmed and managed the legendary WISM 1480, and served as program consultant to Mid-West Family stations WIZM La Crosse and WOSH Oshkosh.
Vancil began his radio career in 1961 as program director of KSTT in Davenport, Iowa. In 1969, he moved to Madison to program WISM-FM as a staff of one, voicing commercials and creating an innovative automated format of pop hits, “Movin’ Easy 98FM.” In 1983 he hired an on-air staff and transformed the station into a live adult contemporary format, which was an immediate success as Magic 98. In the 1990s Vancil co-founded and served as president of the Madison Area Radio Association. He retired from Mid-West as executive vice president, general manager and shareholder in 2002.
Bill Vancil: One of the REALLY GOOD GUYS !!!