James E. de Castro

Jimmy de Castro is a media industry pioneer with more than 25 years of executive management experience and is recognized as one of the most successful sales and operations executives in the country. He has served as vice chairman of the nation’s largest radio broadcasting company and president of AOL Interactive Services.

Currently, he’s launching “Content Factory”, an independent content-focused national syndication company, providing contemporary and established broadcast personalities. He also presently serves as chairman of MusicToGo, the company featuring the revolutionary application that allows listeners to download music directly from station web sites. In addition, radio stations for the first time are able to directly profit from the music they play.

de Castro began his career in marketing and sales, which eventually led to radio management and ownership. He co-founded a six station radio group in 1988 and grew it into 465 stations within 12 years, resulting in the nation’s largest radio broadcasting company at the time—AMFM, Inc. He served as company Vice Chairman and CEO. The company broadcasted in over 100 markets and reached more than 64 million listeners. Under his leadership, AMFM also formed three divisions focusing on internet and related business and expanded its outdoor advertising businesses. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMFMi, the company’s internet subsidiary.

In 2000, Mr. de Castro resigned from AMFM, Inc. (now known as Clear Channel Communications) to devote his efforts exclusively to the convergence of media and the internet and founded the company Nothing but Net. Subsequently, he became a consultant to America OnLine and later accepted the position of President of AOL Interactive Services in 2002.

Under de Castro’s leadership, AOL launched its most successful on-line product, and he is largely credited for putting AOL’s focus back on its multi million member base.

de Castro’s achievements have been widely recognized and he is well known for his turnaround successes. He was named Radio Ink's Co-Executive of the Year in 1995, the Broadcasting Advertising Club of Chicago's “Person of the Year” in 1997, and Radio & Records' Group Executive of the Year in 1999. He received the March of Dimes “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2002.

Mr. de Castro is a 1974 Business and Marketing graduate of the University of Colorado and has completed course work at Harvard Business School.