Tag: "Clear Channel"

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Steve Shaw Named Westwood One President.  Moving up from his post as SVP of Cumulus national sales is Steve Shaw who takes on the president role at the company’s Westwood One syndication and sales unit.  The company says Shaw will “expand his role as head of national spot sales for Cumulus’ owned-and-operated stations to include all national and digital sales for WestwoodOne, effective immediately.  In this new role he’ll oversee Westwood One Networks, Westwood One Sports, and Westwood One Digital, including Rdio and Cumulus National Sales, which will be renamed Westwood One Media Group.  Shaw was previously president of Katz Radio Group and president of Cox Digital Solutions.  Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey says, “Steve will drive the integration of our large stable of national media assets and advertising products under the Westwood One brand.  His track record of success in both broadcast radio and digital media will be instrumental as Cumulus and Westwood One combine to provide a compelling new set of ad packages designed to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our advertisers.”  Shaw comments, “Westwood One brings to listeners and advertisers an incredibly powerful combination of great content across a multitude of distribution channels.  With many of the most established brands in sports, talk, news and entertainment, as well as emerging new brands including NASH and Rdio, the opportunities are significant.  I am very excited to be working with the Westwood One team to create unique and effective solutions for our agency and client partners.”

WHPT, Tampa’s Mike Calta Re-Ups with Cox Hot Talker.  Afternoon drive personality Mike Calta signs a contract renewal with Cox Media Group’s hot talk WHPT, Tampa “102.5 The Bone.”  The station says the “#1 afternoon drive talk show host” continues in his role as host of the 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm show.  The station’s director of branding and programming, John Brennan, comments, “Mike Calta has earned his place among the elite in radio.  I’m honored that he will continue his dominance for several more years as part of The Bone’s team.  This announcement shows CMG’s commitment to providing its communities with the most compelling content and personalities.”  Calta says, “I’m excited to continue my radio career for the next five years right where it started 20 years ago in Tampa Bay.  CMG has been a great company to work for and I look forward to growing the Mike Calta show with them.”  Calta changed his air name from the high school nickname “Cowhead” that he used for years to his given name earlier this year.

Madison Talk Host Mitch Henck Out at WIBA-AM.  Telling the Wisconsin State Journal he “probably milked (the radio job) as long as you could,” mid-morning talk host Mitch Henck says he was ousted by Clear Channel from news/talk WIBA-AM, Madison in a budget-related move.  The host of the 8:00 am to 11:00 am “Outside the Box” program says the ratings were not a problem and that it was “a corporate thing.”  Henck tells the paper he was neither right nor left in his approach to talk radio and he’s probably a “throwback.”  He also says he’s not bitter about the exit and will focus on other interests including his night club act called The Big Show in which he performs songs from the 1950s and 1960s.

CBS RADIO Executes Cross Platform Sales Promotion in NYC.  This promotion ties in the popularity of golf among a certain demographic, that demo’s passion for luxury cars and a popular sports talk personality.  CBS’ radio, TV and digital platforms are executing a promotion involving the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Lexus dealers and the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) called the “Lexus Perfect Drive” that features WFAN morning drive personality Craig Carton.  It was developed in collaboration with CBS Altitude Group and Team One, the ad agency for Lexus, to create excitement in the golf community through an engaging promotion implemented via original audio and video while also driving consumer awareness of the Lexus brand.  Vignettes broadcast on sports talk WFAN-AM/FM, all-news WCBS-AM and classic hits WCBS-FM, plus WCBS-TV and featured on www.cbsnewyork.com offer an insider’s view into an array of renowned golf courses, and in-depth conversations with each club’s head pro as they reveal tips on what it takes to make par on the course’s most challenging hole.  A different course will be highlighted each week of the 12-week campaign.  During the promotion Lexus enthusiasts can visit one of 21 tri-state area dealerships where they can test drive a featured automobile or enter to win a VIP experience at a local golf club.  One grand prize winner will receive a trip to a famed golf resort in Ireland.  Altitude Group EVP Rich Lobel states, “We had a great time working with Team One and Lexus to create a campaign that highlights their pursuit of perfection and comes to life on a very local level.  Craig is a known golf enthusiast with a distinctive ability to speak to sports fans and champion results for clients.  He will be a great ambassador for Lexus as we execute this program.”

Talk Host Phil Valentine to Take Listeners on ‘The Great Loop.’  Nationally syndicated talk show host Phil Valentine is taking his listeners with him as he brings his newly purchased boat – a 1968 57-foot Chris Craft Constellation – home to Tennessee from Fort Pierce, Florida.  He’s calling it Great American Vacation: Cruising the Great Loop and he’ll broadcast daily from the master stateroom of the boat he travels part of what’s called The Great Loop, also known as the Great Circle Route.  That route runs from Chicago and the Great Lakes down to the Tennessee River then down to Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico through the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.  From there it hugs the coast of the Panhandle down past Tampa then either across Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway or down around the tip of Florida then back up the East Coast to New York, up the Hudson then the Erie Canal and back into the Great Lakes. The entire loop is about 6,000 miles.  Valentine plans to traverse approximately a quarter of the loop from Fort Pierce to Mobile then up to Tennessee.  The Fort Pierce to Mobile leg will take approximately 8 to 10 days.  The last leg to the Tennessee River will take another 4 days.  The Westwood One personality says, “I’ve been looking for this particular boat for about eight years.  I’ve dreamed of doing at least part of the loop and the part we’re doing is probably the most scenic in the country.  The great news is our entire audience can vicariously join us for the ride.”  Valentine has hired a captain and first mate to navigate the trip.  Updates along with pictures and videos are being posted daily at http://CruisingTheGreatLoop.blogspot.com.

‘The Game 87.7’ Partners with Comcast SportsNet Chicago.  The late morning sports talk show “Kap & Haugh,” heard daily on WGN Radio’s sports talk sister WGWG-LP “The Game 87.7,” will be seen on Comcast SportsNet Chicago beginning July 21.  Tribune’s WGN Radio announces the show featuring David Kaplan and David Haugh will be simulcast live from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon and the deal will also include a one-hour “best-of” show that will air weeknights from 11:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.  WGN and WGWG-LP president and general manager Jimmy de Castro states, “It’s been our focus to deliver sports talk like no one else.  Combining the ‘Kap & Haugh’ radio broadcast with the TV powerhouse Comcast SportsNet is another piece that fits in our puzzle to bring a complete media experience to the Chicago sports fan.”

Kantar Media Reports U.S. Ad Spend for Q1 2014 Up; Radio Categories Dip.  The Sochi Olympics were a boon for U.S. ad spend in the first quarter of 2014 but television was the beneficiary of that.  However, even without the Olympics money, the U.S. ad spend was up just under 4% compared to the same period a year ago.  As for radio, national spot was the only category – at a jump of 6.7% — was the only one to see an increase from last year.  Local spot, network radio and Hispanic spot were all down with local radio dipping 4.7% compared to the same period a year ago.  Kantar reports that both local radio and Hispanic local radio saw declines attributable to lower spending from the retail, auto dealer and restaurant categories.  See the press statement here.

Holding Hands at the Talkers Conference.  Sales maven Al Herskovitz writes that the recent Talkers New York 2014 conference provided the opportunity to meet in person with fellow talk radio sales people and compare notes about the current state of business.  He says that during chats in the hallways, one topic kept coming up: the art of servicing the client after the sale has been made.  Heskovitz writes that, aside from the ever-present medium and large market concerns about the inclusion of a digital component in marketing proposals, “every group member agreed there are steps that now must be taken to keep the nervous advertiser as comfortable as possible during the run of the spots.”  Read Herskovitz’s suggestions for reminding your clients how important your vehicle is for getting their message to consumers here.

Odds & Sods.  Whether the current spate of Clear Channel layoffs is a company-wide trend or just coincidence is not known for certain, but longtime WKBN, Youngstown, Ohio news director Jim Michaels has been let go after a 30-year career with the station, and according to WFMJ-TV, he was the last person left in the station’s news department…..Alaska talk show host Michael Dukes will become the new morning show host at Ohana Media Group’s KBYR, Anchorage in September.  Currently he is host at Last Frontier Mediactive-owned KFAR, Fairbanks…..Talk show host Mark Wainwright will be sitting in for WSYR, Syracuse morning host Joe Galuski from June 30 through July 3.  Wainwright says he’s available for fill-in work an can be reached at thatvoice@verizon.net…..Speaking of fill-ins, Clear Channel talk personality Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo – WOAI, KPRC and KHOW – is being heard this week in the Crescent City as his show is airing in the afternoon drive slot where WRNO’s John Osterlind is on vacation.

Dr. Joy Browne Works to Support Cancer Survivors and Their Families.  Nationally syndicated (Radio America) relationships host, Dr. Joy Browne – a past recipient of the TALKERS “Humanitarian of the Year Award” – continues her charitable ways.  Immediately following her appearance at Talkers New York 2014, the perennial Heavy Hundred radio star participated in the second annual Manhattan Relay for Life presented between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am at Pier 36 (6/21-22) presented by the American Cancer Society in support of cancer survivors and their families.  She is pictured here at Basketball City with the emcee of the event, Lehi Dowell.

Chris Christie Steps to the Plate for Boomer Esiason Foundation.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is pictured here at the plate at Yankee Stadium taking part in the fourth annual Bombers Boomer Broadway Softball Classic on Monday, June 23.  Christie is a regular guest on WFAN, New York’s Boomer & Carton morning show and he joined Boomer Esiason’s team for the charity softball game.  Team Boomer, which consisted of WFAN personalities and Esiason’s noteworthy friends including Christie, played an exciting matchup against a host of Wounded Warriors and New York Yankees alumni, benefitting the Boomer Esiason Foundation.  WFAN reports that in the 7th inning, with the bases loaded, the Governor’s fielding at third base contributed to leading his team to a 7-6 victory.  Photo by Christian Conte/CBSNewYork.com.

Hillary Clinton Wealth Claims/Health Rumors, Iraq Turmoil-U.S. Assistance, Illegal Immigrant Influx, IRS Scandal, More VA Hospitals Allegations, Klein Clintons-Obamas Book, and World Cup Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (6/23).  Ongoing claims by Hillary Clinton that she and Bill are not rich plus reports that she’s not in good health; the ISIS-perpetrated violence in Iraq and U.S. assistant to the Iraqi Army; controversy over the massive influx of illegals crossing the U.S. border in the Southwest; more testimony from IRS officials about the missing Lois Lerner emails; new allegations of mistreatment of patients at VA hospitals; the new Ed Klein book Blood Feud about the relationship between the Clintons and the Obamas; and World Cup action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio, according to ongoing research about TALKERS.

Talkers New York 2014 a Tremendous Success.  Aside from the impressive numbers (60-plus speakers, hundreds of registrants, early sellout, 29 sponsors), the 17^th annual installment of the longest-running, most-important national convention in the talk media industry was a crowd-pleaser in terms of issues addressed, solutions proposed, and connections made.  Talkers New York 2014 has received praise not only for its agenda’s precision and well-balanced representation of the industry’s diversity — but the spectacular (India House) venue’s food, comfort and elegance as well.  It was a power-packed day (6/20) without a second of downtime. From the opening “Breakfast with Hannity” networking social to the final “Farewell Cocktail Reception,” it stands out as what TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison describes as “one of the really good ones.”  In the words of Journal Broadcast Group’s VP/news/talk programming Tom Langmyer, “This is an incredible venue and the discussions are truly enlightening and powerful.  Not only is the event informative, but also very inspiring.  This is the juice we all need – and I am even more optimistic about the future of talk and the personal connection we can provide – across ALL platforms.”  Consultant/programmer Greg Moceri, CEO of Moceri Media adds, “Just amazing to me how many of us in the biz all these years feel this is a ‘can’t miss’ event every year.”  Courtside Entertainment/PodcastOne CEO Norm Pattiz describes Talkers New York 2014 as “a high-energy, super-pro, first-class conference.”  Radio and WPIX-TV, New York commentator Lionel says, “It just might have been the most fruitful and beneficial to date, if that’s even possible.”  Salem syndicated personality Mike Gallagher called it, “another wonderful gathering.”  Kraig T. Kitchin, CEO of Sound Mind, LLC says, “A great environment for conversation, for interaction, and for shared ideas.  I had a great time!  I learned a lot – more than I anticipated.  The camaraderie was very evident, industry-wide, and that was a true blessing.”  Among the major issues addressed were the challenges facing radio (of all formats, including talk) in the 21^st century digital age including the arenas of programming, sales, technology, audience measurement and economics.  The very role and pertinence of radio in this new era was held up to the spotlight of scrutiny in terms of generational changes and expectations.  The result in a nutshell: unbridled (but absolutely realistic) optimism!  The two words that came up time and again throughout the day were “community” and “passion.”  Perhaps, the general sentiment of the conference is best summed up by WAQY, Springfield, MA “Rock 102” morning show co-host Mike “Bax” Baxendale who wrote, “These seminars have always made me want to become a greater broadcaster.  For that I am deeply grateful.”  In the words of TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey, “The hours and hours of valuable content generated by this event are going to keep our editorial and audio/video production departments busy for weeks as we break it all out and organize it for presentation in the form of stories, news and video packaging.”  Look for multi-media coverage of the event right here at Talkers.com in the days and weeks ahead.  In the meantime, the staff and management of TALKERS want to express deep gratitude to the hundreds of individuals and companies who supported this event so solidly as registrants, speakers and sponsors.  We are humbled by your precious friendship and confidence.

Sean Hannity makes point during morning keynote.

Sean Hannity addresses standing room crowd.

Phil Boyce (l) and Greg Moceri (c) interviewed by
Sean Hannity (r).

Mike Francesa delivers sports talk keynote.

Norm Pattiz accepting Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thom Hartmann accepting Freedom of Speech Award.

Julie Talbott accepting Woman of the Year Award.

Carole Marks presenting Joyce Kaufman with
Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Jim Bohannon emceeing the Awards Ceremony.
Not pictured, Kenneth Chandler, introducer.

Jerry Del Colliano delivering special address.

Erica Farber moderating “State of Radio Advertising
and Sales” panel.

“State of Radio Advertising and Sales” panel. (l-r):
Ron Furman, Julie Talbott, Joe Puglise, Kraig Kitchin.
Not pictured:  Dr. Asa Andrew, introducer.

“Radio: The Big Picture Panel” (l-r): Tom Langmyer,
Mike McVay, Sam Kimball, Steve Goldstein, Tom Leykis.
Not pictured:  Michael Harrison, moderator;
Dana Loesch, introducer.

“The State of Local Talk Radio” panel. (l-r): Jerry Crowley,
Larry Young, McGraw Milhaven, Mike “Bax” Baxendale,
Lee Harris.  Not pictured:  David Bernstein, moderator;
Ethan Bearman, introducer.

“The State of Talk Radio Programming” panel.  (l-r):

Bill Hess, Craig Schwalb, Gabe Hobbs.  Not pictured:
Kevin Casey, moderator; Phil Boyce, panelist.

“The State of Talk Radio Programming” panel,  Andy Bloom.

“Developing and Managing a Talk Show Hosting Career”
panel. (l-r): Ron Hartenbaum, Tom Becka, Martha Zoller.
Not pictured:  Mike Kinosian, moderator.

“Developing and Managing a Talk Show Hosting Career”
panel.  (l-r): Tom Marr, Joe Piscopo.

“The Talk Rumble” (l-r):  Mike Gallagher, Bubba the
Love Sponge, Joyce Kaufman, David Webb,
Kevin McCullough, Alan Colmes, Thom Hartmann.
Not pictured:  Lionel, moderator; Dr. Joy Browne, introducer.

Howard B. Price delivering special address.