PRESS RELEASE: Macon, Georgia’s WNEX The Creek 100.9 FM, Powered by Visit Macon, Names New General Manager

MACON, Ga (January 27, 2026) – Macon’s premier American roots radio station, The Creek 100.9, acquired last year by Visit Macon, is pleased to announce Susie Cowan as its new General Manager. Cowan brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of tourism, community development, and event-driven marketing, with a strong emphasis on music as a catalyst for tourism and economic growth.

“The Creek operates as an Americana-themed, Macon-centric station broadcasting throughout Central Georgia and streaming to listeners worldwide and remains one of the most powerful mediums for community engagement and for conveying a strong sense of place," says Visit Macon President & CEO Gary Wheat. "As a destination marketing organization, we recognize the tremendous benefit in having a curated listening experience available 24/7 to streaming audiences around the world. We truly felt that Susie Cowan’s career, which started in radio and evolved into tourism, was a perfect blend of the expertise and management that we wanted at the helm of the station as we continue to proudly stream this station to new corners of the world and encourage visitations to Macon’s music story!”

Most recently serving as Industry Relations Manager for Arkansas Tourism, Cowan has built a career championing destinations through storytelling, live events, and cultural assets—particularly music. Her work has included promoting festivals, supporting local artists and venues, and leveraging music-driven experiences to attract visitors and elevate regional identity. This background aligns seamlessly with The Creek 100.9’s mission to celebrate music, community, and place.

Cowan’s professional experience spans hospitality, marketing, and downtown revitalization. She has led impactful community events, supported downtown development initiatives with the Argenta Downtown Council, and worked closely with business owners through the Arkansas Hospitality Association. These roles have uniquely positioned her to understand how local music scenes, radio, and tourism organizations can work together to strengthen communities and drive visitation.

“Music has always been one of the most powerful tools we have to tell a destination’s story,” said Cowan. “I’m thrilled to step into this role with The Creek 100.9 and work alongside Visit Macon to highlight the artists, venues, and cultural experiences that make this community special. Radio plays a vital role in connecting people—to music, to place, and to each other.”

An Arkansas native born and raised in Pine Bluff, Cowan brings a deep appreciation for the role tourism plays as an economic driver and quality-of-life enhancer. As a mother and proud “Honey Gram,” she understands the importance of vibrant communities that are welcoming for both residents and visitors. Outside of work, she remains actively involved in local initiatives, helping plan and execute community-building events that celebrate culture and attract tourism.

As General Manager, Cowan will oversee station operations, strategic partnerships, and programming initiatives, with a focus on expanding Creek Media’s role as a hub for music tourism and community engagement in the Macon area.

WNEX has a long history in Central Georgia, originally signed on the air on April 20, 1945. Over the decades, ownership, format, and affiliates changed. In 2016, Macon entrepreneurs and music fans led the rebranding as an Americana-themed, community-driven radio station, which began its new chapter broadcasting on July 8, 2016, as 100.9 The Creek.

Over the past nine years, The Creek has not only amassed diehard listeners in the Central Georgia broadcast area, but also loyal listeners who stream from around the world. The Creek reports to the Americana Music Association radio airplay charts, which creates an accurate representation of all Americana albums and song tracks.

For more information, contact Susie Cowan at (870) 540-9867 or email susie@thecreekfm.com.

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About The Creek: Our mission is to broadcast the Macon experience every day: its roots in American music, its people, and culture. The Creek 100.9FM curates the finest in American roots music through the lens of Macon and Central Georgia's music history, locally owned and operated, broadcasting to a Central Georgia coverage area including Macon, Warner Robins, Perry, Gray, Forsyth, and beyond. As a music media brand, The Creek attracts people from all over the world to its authentic storytelling—bringing influential music as well as Macon’s culture and place to life. It can be streamed worldwide at thecreekfm.com.

About Visit Macon: The mission of Visit Macon is to unify and lead our community in marketing the Macon-Bibb County area as a superior visitor and meeting destination. Visit Macon promotes Macon, Georgia to travel writers, meeting planners, group tour operators and leisure travelers in an effort to bring people and revenues into the community and area businesses. http://www.visitmacon.org