Industry News

WJR, Detroit Brings Anthony Bellino Aboard as “SportsWrap” Co-Host

Cumulus Media names Detroit sports media personality Anthony Bellino co-host of WJR’s “SportsWrap,” alongside Lomas Brown. WJR parted ways with the program’s previous co-host Sean Baligian in December.  Bellino currently serves as an in-game host for Detroit Lions and University of Michigan football broadcasts and is public address announcer for University of Michigan men’s andim women’s basketball programs and the University of Toledo men’s and women’s basketball programs. WJR notes that Bellino spends his free time helping his family at their Monroe, Michigan grocery store, Danny’s Fine Foods, where he works as a fourth-generation butcher. WJR program director Ann Thomas says, “Anthony Bellino started his broadcasting career as an intern for the ‘Paul W. Smith Show’ in 2007. I could not be more pleased to welcome him back to the ‘Great Voice of the Great Lakes’ as a seasoned sports professional ready to bring our listeners timely and thoughtful insights on Detroit’s sports scene.” Bellino comments, “What an honor and a privilege it is to be joining the ‘Great Voice of the Great Lakes,’ 760 WJR. I can’t wait to contribute to the station’s legendary broadcasting history and make some new history of our own. The phone call from WJR was really a full-circle moment… I can’t wait to get started and to host ‘SportsWrap’ with my good friend Lomas Brown.”

Industry News

Kraig T. Kitchin to Receive 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award

The TALKERS editorial board has announced the selection of renowned radio industry executive Kraig T. Kitchin as the 2023 recipient of the newly renamed Jim Bohannon Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement. Mr. Kitchin will be presented the honor at the forthcoming TALKERS 2023 convention on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY.  In making the announcement, TALKERS founder Michael Harrison stated, “Although still a relatively young man, Kraig Kitchin’s illustrious career goes back decades and his positive contributions to the radio business – including the spoken word formats and some of its greatest talents including the late Rush Limbaugh – have been indelible and immeasurable.” Since 2008, Kitchin has been president of the talent management firm, Sound Mind, with a focused effort toward managing the businesses of high-profile radio and podcast personalities as well as production companies. He also serves as a strategic advisor to Oxford Road, a media placement agency specializing in audio advertising, with a focus on podcasts and audio integrations. The nine-year-old agency is a leader in the audio space on behalf of more than 50 clients. Kitchin also serves as chairman of the National Radio Hall of Fame to which he was appointed in 2014. Since assuming the role, he has reinstituted national public voting for two of the six categories of induction and has doubled the voting participant panel. Under his leadership, more than 75 radio icons have been inducted. Prior to launching his own firm, Kitchin was one of the founders of Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., in 1987. The company grew to be the number one radio network in the country syndicating 90 radio programs and services to more than 4,600 radio affiliates, reaching 190 million listeners weekly. He started as executive vice president of sales and by 1998 at the age of 37, he assumed the role of president/COO, one of the youngest in the country to run a $300 multi-million-plus radio company. During his 10-year tenure at Premiere, Kitchin directed and oversaw all talk and music programming and services featuring the nation’s most popular personalities like Limbaugh, DelilahJim RomeGlenn BeckCasey KasemBill HandelRyan SeacrestBob (Kevoian) and Tom (Griswold)Steve HarveyWhoopi GoldbergBlair GarnerGeorge NooryMaria BartiromoJim CramerMatt Drudge, the late Art BellDonald TrumpBob Costas and others. In addition, he supervised Premiere Radio’s other properties: Mediabase 24/7, the industry’s leading music monitoring service, MJI Programming, and FOX Sports Radio. Kitchin started his career in station management at WFMK-FM in Lansing, MI, and KTYD-FM in Santa Barbara, CA before serving as sales manager of the Katz Radio Group Network in Los Angeles. Kitchin will be one of 60 industry leaders speaking at TALKERS 2023.  For more information, see story below.

Advice

Monday Memo: Like Sands Through the Hourglass…

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

 

BLOCK ISLAND — “…so are The Days of Our Lives.” The intro to that soap opera – er, daytime drama – is SO old that it outlived star MacDonald Carey, still heard voicing-over the beginning of each show on NBC-TV every weekday…until today. After 57 years and 58 Emmy Awards on broadcast television, the venerable melodrama will now be seen exclusively on NBC’s streaming platform Peacock.

(more…)

Industry News

Travis’ Atlanta, Seattle Travelogue

Clay TravisThis past Tuesday (4/16) in Atlanta, Clay Travis of Premiere Networks’ “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” joined Georgia leaders, lawmakers, and over 300 attendees at Greater Georgia’s Second Annual Legislative Awards Ceremony. Among those at the Travis-emceed  event included Georgia Governor Brian Kemp; Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones; former Senator/Greater Georgia chair Kelly Loeffler; and Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns. Then the following night (Wednesday, 4/17), Travis was in Washington State where he spoke at Hillsdale College’s National Leadership Seminar in Bellevue. The biannual event drew over 500 attendees and addressed politics; economics; and culture. Hillsdale College is a sponsor of “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show,” which airs weekdays 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm (ET) on more than 470 stations. During his trip, Travis visited/broadcasted live from Dickey Broadcasting Atlanta news/talk WFOM “XTRA 106.3 FM,” and iHeartMedia Seattle news/talk KPTR “1090 The Patriot.” Travis formerly hosted FOX Sports Radio’s weekday morning “Outkick The Coverage with Clay Travis.”  Pictured above: Hillsdale College president Dr. Larry P. Arnn (left) and Clay Travis (right) at Hillsdale College’s National Leadership Seminar
Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

The internet TV talk show “Jim Peters At Night” is preparing to broadcast its 100th episode live this evening (3/25). The program is broadcast live via video Mondays through Thursdays at 11:00 pm ET on six popular online platforms. The featured guest for the 100th installment will be Dr. Murray Sabrin, professor emeritus of economics and finance at Ramapo College in New Jersey.

Audio sales firm AdLarge welcomes “Stupid Things for Love” to its podcast lineup. The company says, “Through candid discussions, host Scott Campbell, an internationally acclaimed tattoo artist, creates a deeply empathetic and secure environment for guests, inviting them to share their vulnerabilities and intimate narratives, regardless of their level of fame or recognition. From personal struggles to triumphant moments, ‘Stupid Things for Love’ offers an unassuming platform for real people to connect and relate.”

Industry News

Cumulus Albuquerque Promotes Blood Drive

im

Pictured above is KKOB-AM/FM midday talk host Brandon Vogt at a January 30 community blood drive remote broadcast. Cumulus Media partnered with Vitalant Blood Donation and collected 114 pints of blood for the Albuquerque blood bank. All listeners that stopped by to “Give a Pint, Get a Pint,” received a pint of ice cream for donating a pint of blood, courtesy of Blue Bell Ice Cream.

Industry News

Scott Masteller to Program WPEN-FM, Philadelphia

Beasley Media Group names Scott Masteller program director for sports talk WPEN-FM, Philadelphia “97.5 The Fanatic.” During his career, Masteller has served with ESPN Radio, KESN-FM, Dallas-Fortim Worth, news/talk WBAL, Baltimore to name a few. Beasley Media Group Philadelphia VP and market manager Joe Bell comments, “Scott is one of the premiere programmers in sports talk radio. I have been a fan for years and feel he’s the right person to continue developing the Fanatic brand.” Masteller says, “I am excited to partner with Beasley and the talented staff of ‘97.5 The Fanatic.’ Philadelphia is such a great sports town with some of the most passionate fans in the country!”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

“The Patriot” is coming to Houston. TALKERS magazine sources indicate that a new conservative news/talk station with a strong, market-wide signal will debut in Houston on or shortly after January 1, 2024. It will feature new, local morning and afternoon drive shows and an array of syndicated personalities including Rob CarsonTodd Starnes, Rich ValdesChris Plante, and Wendy Bell. Confirmation to come. In the meantime, for more information contact: Steve@Lapcomventures.com

Jordan Schlansky rises from Conan O’Brien’s associate producer (with “various duties”) to his co-host – with the launch of “The Conan and Jordan Show” on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Radio channel. SXM says, “Conan and Jordan will explore their strange relationship and get to know each other even better during their radio series. In the debut episode, the pair delved into Jordan’s favorite band, Rush, and his pronunciation of Socrates, among other topics. Plus, they spoke with several callers live on air.”

In conjunction with today’s national Giving Tuesday, the Broadcasters Foundation of America is asking radio and television professionals to consider a tax-deductible donation that will help their colleagues in need. The BFoA, a 501c3 charity, provides financial assistance to people in radio or television who are in need due to a debilitating disease, accident, or disaster. BFoA president Tim McCarthy comments, “Giving Tuesday is a perfect day to think of our colleagues who have fallen on challenging times. Every week we receive more requests for aid, and we cannot turn our backs on our hard-working colleagues who life has dealt a difficult hand, leaving them in need of our help.” Find out more about how to give here.

Audacy Dallas raised over $88,000 for the My Possibilities charity that serves adults with disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Autism, Asperger’s, Prader-Willi, head injuries and more, as part of 105.3 The Fan’s 13th annual Piece-A-Thon. On November 22, midday show “K&C Masterpiece” co-hosts Kevin Hageland, Cory Mageors, and Mike Bacsik took over the station’s airwaves from 5:30 am to 7:00 pm and welcomed special guests that included Dallas Cowboys EVP and chief brand officer Charlotte Jones, Dallas Stars Foundation president Marty Turco, former Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland, and more.

Features

Merchandize Your Content!

By Mark Kaye
Talk Show Host
Cox Media Group

imWe have a saying around “The Mark Kaye Show” studio:

“If the audience likes it on the air, they’re gonna LOVE it on a t-shirt!”

Just last month, after moving to vacate Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Representative Matt Gaetz turned around to a House Chamber full of angry, howling Congresspeople and bellowed back…

“Oh BOOOO all you want!”

As we played that clip over and over on my show, all I could think was, “This would make a fantastic Halloween t-shirt!”

Within 24 hours our online store was printing and shipping shirts and hoodies with an AI-generated Matt Gaetz cartoon character standing before a chorus of screaming ghosts with his newly coined catchphrase lingering above: “Oh Boo All You Want!”

It was the hottest-selling item so far this year.

When the feds raided Donald Trump’s mansion in South Florida, I had a friend create an “Remember the Alamo” themed logo that prompted listeners to “Remember Mar-A-Lago.”

We still get orders for those weekly.

And it isn’t just clothing…

My current book The Untold Story of Christmas was born of an annual holiday tradition that began on my show. Many of my listeners pleaded for a copy they could share with their families and loved ones. Not wanting to disappoint them, I published a beautifully illustrated book this year and offered it to my fans. It’s already in its second printing and is quickly climbing up the Amazon charts! (I expect it to be #1 by Black Friday!) And the best part is, they are thanking me for making it available to them.

People want to show their support for you in any way they can and they will give you money if you let them.

The richest guys at the Trump rally are Donald Trump and whoever is selling MAGA hats outside.

The merch line at the Taylor Swift concert is longer than the Great Wall of China.

And if you attend a major sporting event without your team’s logo emblazoned on some article of clothing, well, you just look weird.

But merchandise isn’t just an additional stream of revenue, it’s a bond that can connect you and your audience eternally. They love you. They love your show. They love it for the three hours a day you offer it to them. Unless you offer them something tangible that doesn’t drift off into the ether after you turn off the microphone, they can’t show their fandom the other 21 hours of the day.

Your listeners want to wear your merch and read your books while sipping your signature energy drink and watching your bobblehead nodding along with them as they listen to your show.

If you love and value your audience, and want to keep them listening as long as possible, then simply give them what they want. Create tangible representations of your content. Let them be fanatical about your show even when you’re off the air.

Mark Kaye is the morning drive host at Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM, Jacksonville. His program is syndicated to other CMG news/talk stations in markets around the country. He can be emailed at: markkayeshow@gmail.com. 

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

PodcastOne announces deals to extend top performing and fan favorite podcasts “LadyGang,” “Gals on the Go” and “Melissa Gorga On Display.” PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “PodcastOne prides itself on being talent first and ‘LadyGang,’ ‘Gals on the Go’ and ‘Melissa Gorga On Display’ are some of the most talented hosts in the medium. We’re incredibly fortunate to build on a legacy of groundbreaking audio driven entertainment for women. Being able to grow these podcasts in partnership with their hosts has truly been a pleasure over the last several years, and we look forward to what the future has in store.”

VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, adds new affiliate stations in Medford, Oregon and Abilene, Texas. VSiN general manager Len Mead says, “Following new radio affiliates in New Hampshire and North Carolina late this summer, the new football season brings continued expansion of VSiN’s leading sports betting radio network. We’re excited to welcome new fans in Medford and Abilene as we continue to expand our distribution footprint to inform and entertain more listeners than ever before.”

iHeartPodcasts and Novel announce the launch of brand-new weekly podcast, “28 Dates Later with Grace Campbell.” Comedian and writer Campbell goes on 28 dates across two months, only dating people who are the total opposite of her usual type. Listeners not only hear audio from the actual dates, but are also be given a ringside seat to the post-date debrief between Grace and her friends Roz and Dan.

NASCAR crowns it’s Premier Series Champion this Sunday (11/5) at Phoenix Raceway capping its historic 75th Anniversary season. When Motor Racing Network completes its live broadcast from Phoenix, it will signal the end of approximately 350 hours of NASCAR related content produced by the network in 2023.

Industry News

WLS-AM, Chicago Adds Two News Programs to the Lineup

Cumulus Media’s news/talk WLS-AM, Chicago adds two, one-hour news programs hosted by station news anchor Bret Gogoel to its daily lineup. “The Closing Bell” airs from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm with PM Chicago” airing from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The station says, “Bret Gogoel takes listeners through a wrapim of local, national, and global business news as he chats with Chicago’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. Alongside news anchors Kim Gordon, Nick Gale, and Annie Krall, Gogoel shares the latest tech, consumer, and local business news, and why it matters to Chicagoans and their wallets. On the drive imhome each weekday from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, host Bret Gogoel and the WLS Newsroom team share Chicago’s local news that matters on ‘PM Chicago.’ From politics and education to crime and health, ‘PM Chicago’ shines the spotlight on local stories that are important to Chicagoans, with reports from Kim Gordon, Nick Gale, and Annie Krall. WLS-AM program director Stephanie Tichenor states, “I am delighted to be adding local news and business programs for our listeners in the afternoons. Bret has risen through the ranks at WLS from a part-time board operator to news anchor and host and he is the perfect fit to helm these new offerings.”

Industry News

2023 Radio Hall of Fame Nominees Announced

The Museum of Broadcast Communications announces the selection of the 24 Radio Hall of Fame 2023 nominees chosen by the Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee, with input from the radio industry and listeners. Voting – by more than 800 industry members – for inductees begins tomorrow (6/16) and runs through June 30. The top six vote recipients will gain induction as part of the 2023 Radio Hall of Fame Induction class. The two additional inductees that will make up the eight-person induction class will be selected by theim Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee. The nominees are: Bert Weiss, Bob Rivers, Charles Laquidara, Dyana Williams, Gerry House, Jaime Jarrin, John & Ken, John DeBella, Johnny Magic, Kevin Matthews, Kid Leo (Lawrence Travagliante), Larry Elder, Laurie DeYoung, Lee Harris, Rev. Louise Williams, Bishop, Mark Simone, Mary McCoy, Matt Siegel, Mojo in the Morning, Monica May, Nina Totenberg, Pat St. John, Shadoe Stevens, and Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart. 2023 Radio Hall of Fame inductees will be announced Monday, July 24, and honored in-person at the 2023 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, November 2, at the InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel in New York City. Radio Hall of Fame co-chairman Kraig Kitchin states, “Congratulations to each of this year’s’ nominees on this recognition. Behind this slate of nominees, the nominating committee reviewed more than 2,500 incoming suggestions from industry members and listeners before determining this group of talented individuals. Each nominee is deserving of induction, and I look forward to the results of the forthcoming confidential voting results.”

Industry News

KFI, Los Angeles Debuts Limited Podcast Series on Rising Antisemitism

iHeartMedia’s Los Angeles news/talk outlet KFI-AM announces the launch of “HATE: Modern Antisemitism,” a limited podcast series that investigates the spike in hate crimes and how people inside and outside the Jewish community are helping to raise awareness with the goal of stopping Antisemitism and all incidents of hate. The series – produced by the award-winning team of Steve Gregory and Jacob Gonzalez – features Ted Deutch, the CEO of the Americanim Jewish Committee. The AJC is a global advocacy organization that monitors Antisemitism around the world and offers education and support to the Jewish community as well as engaging with leaders at the highest levels of government. KFI program director Robin Bertolucci says, “I, along with others, recently watched in horror as anti-Semitic protesters were seen making Nazi salutes to passersby on the 405 freeway. As broadcasters, it is our duty to educate and inform our listeners and this podcast brings attention to the unseemly underbelly of Antisemitism which is sadly alive and well online and in our communities.” Other guests include Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean and director of Global Social Action Agenda for the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles; Dr. Matthew Schumacher, a clinical and operational psychologist who is on assignment with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau; Dr. Michael Berenbaum, curator of the installation of the only authorized traveling exhibition of Auschwitz; Rabbi Michael Barclay, founding rabbi of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, California.

Industry News

PodcastOne to Host Adam Carolla Pay-Per-View Event

PodcastOne is producing a live, pay-per-view event starring its leading podcast talent Adam Carolla. The June 4 show titled, “Adam Carolla & Friends,” airs at 9:30 pm ET from the Belly Up Tavern outside of San Diego and features Carolla plus comics Brad Williams, Kimbles Hume and other special guests. PodcastOneim says that in 2020, “Carolla made history when he partnered with LiveOne and PodcastOne for a livestream event that garnered an impressive 1.1 million views.”  PodcastOne president Kit Gray comments, “We are excited that PodcastOne and LiveOne have partnered with Adam to produce and distribute Adam’s very first headlining pay-per-view event. Very few comedians are as entertaining in an intimate club environment as Adam. Each show he performs is unique and tailored and to be able to bring this to a worldwide audience exemplifies how we’re able to create opportunities for our podcast hosts outside of the traditional audio driven mediums.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: NAB Show 2023

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

The first thing we heard was an earful from NAB president & CEO Curtis LeGeyt regarding automakers dropping AM receivers from new cars: “This is an issue we consider to be absolutely existential.”

Quoting Nielsen’s Fall 2022 survey results, Cumulus/Westwood One chief insights officer Pierre Bouvard ticked-off what he called “82 million reasons to keep AM radio in cars”

— 82,346,800 Americans listen to AM radio monthly.

— One out of three American radio listeners are reached monthly by AM radio.

— 57% of the AM radio audience listens to news/talk stations, the very outlets that Americans turn to in times of crisis and breaking local news.

 

As he presented “The State of Media, Audio and Marketing,” attendees were screen-shooting every slide in Pierre’s deck, so he offered to share (PBouvard@WestwoodOne.com). This must-see data explains and validates what he calls “The Two Jobs of Marketing: Converting Existing Demand and Creating Future Demand,” powerful ammo station reps can use to nudge advertisers who only tout special sales to instead use radio on-an-ongoing-basis.

— “If an apple orchard represents a brand’s entire customer base, converting existing demand = picking ripe apples (customers that are ‘in market’).” Those are, for instance, what he called the “3% who are looking to buy a car right now,” who will respond to the dealer’s caricature sale spots. As for the other 97%…

“If an apple orchard represents a brand’s entire customer base, creating future demand = planting new trees. It takes time and patience for new trees to bear fruit.” Thus, the worth of “emotional messaging that is designed to stand out and be enjoyed by consumers, creating positive memories of our brand that will influence future purchase decisions.”

 

Help Wanted!

Two discussions I took part in during the Small-Medium Market Forum echoed a unison I’m hearing everywhere: Where do we find on-air talent and salespeople?

— In the talent roundtable Mike McVay led, participants tended to think-young, swapping ideas for identifying entry-level candidates, possibly now podcasting. Or think-older. One participant mentioned a retired schoolteacher, comfortably pensioned, now cheerfully on-air, working fewer than 40 hours.

— The part-timer’s opportunity also came up on the sales side, in a roundtable led by Midwest Communications’ president Peter Tanz. As with industry in general post-pandemic, flexible arrangements help. And Tanz urged “Use your air, with ‘more cowbell.’” Meaning not only advertise for sellers on-air (where you’ll be talking to people who know the station); and he also suggested airing Employee Recognition salutes, of off-air staffers, which make the station sound like an appreciative employer.

— I read attendees a Help Wanted-Sales spot that has been productive at client stations, which I’ll share with you too. Simply Email me at talkradio@hollandcooke.com

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author “Spot-On: Commercial Copy Points That Earned The Benjamins,” a FREE download; and the E-book and FREE on-air radio features Inflation Hacks: Save Those Benjamins;” and “Multiply Your Podcast Subscribers, Without Buying Clicks,” available from Talkers books.  Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

“92.9 The Game” in Atlanta Unveils New Morning Show

Audacy sports talk outlet WZGC-FM, Atlanta “92.9 The Game” announces the launch of its new “morning sports and lifestyle show” called “The Morning Shift on 92.9 The Game” that stars (pictured from l-r) Tiffany Blackmon, Mike Johnson and Beau Morgan and airs from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. The trio takes over for current morning host John Fricke, who will continue with the station in a new role to be announced at a later date. “92.9 The Game” brand manager Mike Conti says, “Tiffany, Mike and Beau are going to offer a uniqueWZGC - Atlanta Falcons combination of perspectives on sports, culture, current events and day-to-day life that our listeners will find to be informative, entertaining and funny. They’ve quickly developed a chemistry that I think will lead to a fast-paced, fun, high-energy show each morning.” Blackmon also serves as a sideline reporter on ESPN’s coverage of college football and the XFL. Johnson played for the Atlanta Falcons for five years and has been working in TV and radio in Birmingham and Atlanta. He’ll also be a part of the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network’s pre- and post-game shows. Morgan is a 15-year veteran of sports radio in Atlanta, most recently as the executive producer of the station’s afternoon drive show, “Dukes and Bell,” and the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network. Along with the new morning show, the station will also launch a new early morning show called, “The Hometown Take,” hosted by morning show producer Dylan Mathews that airs from 5:00 am to 6:00 am.

Industry News

Cumulus Bloomington Raises $101,705 for St. Jude’s

Pictured below are staffers from Cumulus Media Bloomington, Illinois’ showing the final tally of the 15th Annual Radiothon for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that raised $101,705. The company’s three stations – news/talk WJBC-AM and its music-formatted sisters – produced the two-day fundraising event on Thursday and Friday (2/9-10).

WJBC - Bloomington

Cumulus Bloomington promotions director and event planner Dana Bell says, “Year after year, our listeners and sponsors show an unbelievable amount of support for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We thank them for their generosity as they join with us to make a difference in the lives of children and families fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases. There are so many families in our community who directly benefit from what these Partners in Hope do when they donate money, and it’s great to see our community come together for such an important cause.”

Industry News

Cumulus Marketing Consultant Honored with MLK Award

Martin Luther King Jr. - Fashion

Pictured above is Cumulus Media Charleston, South Carolina senior marketing consultant Cynthia Alston Bell (right) with WICV-TV anchor and WMGL-FM midday host Tessa Spencer (left) at the 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Portrait Awards at which Bell was honored for outstanding service to the community. Spencer served as emcee for the event.