Tag: "Dennis Miller"
Monday Memo: Emulate Success
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
BLOCK ISLAND, RI — Not an opinion: One voice sustains attention less than two.
- Philadelphia radio maven Jerry Lee invested good research money learning that two-voice commercials produce better results that single-voice spots.
- And music stations’ remaining local morning shows tend to be multi-voice.
- If you’re a local host at a Rush Limbaugh station, and you reckon that his lengthy monologues entitle you to drone on, run the numbers and compare his Time Spent Listening to yours. Keep it moving.
- Whether you’re an ask-the-expert show or a political talker, one-caller-after-another make you sound popular and authoritative, and certainly habit-forming.
- Podcasters: Because simply acquiring your work asks so much of the listener, this matters most to you.
Friday, March 6, 2020
NOW POSTED: New Installment of “The Michael Harrison Wrap: An Overview of the National Conversation.” The vibrant, one-hour weekend special, “The Michael Harrison Wrap,” that looks back each week at the hottest topics discussed in American talk media per the research of TALKERS magazine, is now posted on the website of its flagship station, WONK-FM, Washington, DC. The new episode titled “This is No Gaffing Matter!” looks back at this past week of March 2-6, 2020 and features guests (in order of appearance): Kevin Casey, executive editor, TALKERS; Victoria Jones; executive director, DC Radio Company; Martha Zoller, talk show host, WDUN, Gainesville, Georgia; Thom Hartmann, talk show host, WYD Media; Joshua Philipp, senior investigative reporter, The Epoch Times; and Bali Samra, human resources consultant/commentator, Pioneer Valley Radio. This acclaimed news/talk radio show airs each week on WONK-FM, Washington, DC Friday evenings at 6:00 pm ET. It also airs throughout the weekend on WRKO, Boston; KSCO, Santa Cruz, CA; KDFD “Freedom 93.7”, Denver; KFNX, Phoenix; WVOX, Westchester, NY; KBDT, Dallas; KQSP, Minneapolis; KBKW, Aberdeen, WA; the Virginia Talk Radio Network and Pioneer Valley Radio in Springfield, MA. To listen to this week’s episode (and the program’s complete archives), please click here. To view the latest TALKERS magazine topic research, please click here. “The Michael Harrison Wrap” is now available in syndication via Talk Media Network to stations across America on a market exclusive basis. For affiliation information, please click here or call 616-884-8616.
FOX News Radio Names Jimmy Failla Host of ‘FOX Across America.’ The new, permanent host of FOX News Radio’s midday “FOX Across America” show is comedian Jimmy Failla, who takes over on Monday (3/9). “FOX Across America” has been airing in the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET daypart with a rotating cast of hosts since Todd Starnes – host of “FOX News and Commentary” – exited FNR back in the fall of 2019. FNR says, “Based in FNR’s New York City studio, ‘FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla’ will feature guests from across the political spectrum for lively discussions on the day’s leading headlines. A standup comedian and former head writer for FOX Business Network’s “Kennedy” (weekdays 9:00 pm ET), Failla will also utilize his comedic talents to help navigate the partisan divide, providing an honest look at the important issues that affect every American.” In addition to airing weekdays on FNR, the show will also be available for download via FOX News Podcast Network, with full video recordings of each airing streaming exclusively on FOX Nation, FNC’s online subscription-based streaming service.
Denver’s ‘The Fan’ Celebrates 25th Anniversary. Denver sports talk outlet KKFN-FM “Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan” turns 25 today and the Bonneville station is launching a campaign that will culminate in a 25th anniversary celebration in June. As part of the celebration, ‘The Fan’ will welcome back influential figures from the station’s history for a reunion broadcast that will allow Denver listeners to reconnect with talent from the past. Bonneville Denver SVP and market manager Bob Call says, “Twenty-five years ago, we launched Denver’s first 24-hour, all-sports radio station. Over the years, ‘The Fan’ has featured some of Denver’s most-loved personalities, starting with Doug Moe and Tom Green – who signed the station on the air – to legendary personalities like Irv Brown, Joe Williams, and Sandy Clough, who continues to entertain Denver sports fans today. Through the years, ‘The Fan’ has been built on great live and local talent. We are grateful for our many listeners and business partners who have been a part of this remarkable legacy.”
Westwood One to End NBC Sports Radio Distribution. Affiliates of the Westwood One-distributed NBC Sports Radio network are being notified that WWO will discontinue its distribution of the network at the end of this month. Westwood One also handles distribution for the CBS Sports Radio network and affiliates are being offered the option to take that network’s programming. NBC Sports Radio had been offering 24/7 content but reduced that in January of last year but continued to offer sports talk shows such as “ProFootballTalk Live with Mike Florio” and “The Safety Blitz with Rodney Harrison and Dan Schwartzman.” Those shows will continue to be available on various digital platforms.
Lyndsay Keith Named Co-Host of ‘Spicer & Co.’ Pictured above on the set of the Newsmax TV show “Spicer & Co.” is co-host Lyndsay Keith (left) and host (former White House Press Secretary) Sean Spicer (right). “Spicer & Co.” debuted Tuesday (3/3) and airs weekdays at 6 pm ET. Prior to joining Newsmax, Keith worked at Google as a brand strategist. She has also served as deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee. She also served as an adviser to the Mitt Romney presidential campaign.
TALKERS News Notes. The 8th Annual Contact in the Desert event takes place at Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California May 29 through June 1 and one of the participants will be Premiere Networks late-night host George Noory. The event is described as “an epic adventure weekend into the science of UFOs, communication with non-human intelligence, ancient astronauts, human origins, crop circles, military sightings, government disclosure, artificial intelligence, downed craft technology, the evolution of consciousness, forbidden archaeology, cosmic teachings, contact experiences, interplanetary living, and much more.” The host of “Coast to Coast AM” is one of 70 “experts, scientists, researchers, and military
insiders.”…..iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR, New York and LaborPress.org are presenting a panel discussion called “The Future of Healthcare” on March 19 at The Cutting Room in New York City. The 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm event will feature opening remarks by NYS Building & Construction Trades Council president James Cahill and is being moderated by filmmaker Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos, The Matrix) who also produced and directed the documentary film that addresses mental illness titled, No Kidding! Me 2!!…..Comedian and talk host Dennis Miller begins hosting a
twice-weekly show on RT America called, “Dennis Miller +1.” The interview show airs live at 9:00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Miller says, “What do I like in an interview? I like it when the host asks a question and then listens to the guest’s answer and then reacts to that answer with an amplification through the next question. I promise you, I will not sit here finding myself overly precious and thinking only about my next query. I’m going to have a conversation!” Miller talks to actor and comedian Jeff Dunham on the first episode…..The Washington Examiner is
launching a weekly podcast called, “Mag Men,” that offers analysis and commentary of the week’s news and what stories the editors are working on for the week ahead. It’s being hosted by executive editor Seth Mandel, managing editor Jay Caruso, Life and Arts editor Park MacDougal and deputy editor J. Grant Addison. The show is on the Ricochet platform that also hosts other Washington Examiner podcasts, including the “Hashing it Out,” a weekly podcast hosted by Siraj Hashmi, “The Byron York Show,” hosted by Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York, and “Examining Politics, “a daily podcast hosted by Cumulus Media and WMAL-FM, Washington talk-show host Larry O’Connor…..Happy 61st birthday to talk host Lars Larson, who also celebrates 45 years on the radio this month.
Larson, who hosts his daily KXL-FM, Portland-based Pacific Northwest show as well as his Compass Media Networks nationally syndicated show, says, “Forty-five years ago this month, I landed my first paid job in radio spinnin’ records and reading news from 10:00 pm to 12:00 midnight Monday thru Friday on the “Mighty 1590” KTIL from a cinderblock building in a cow pasture outside Tillamook, Oregon. Forty years ago next week, I came to work at KXL. This month, I mark 23 years of Radio Northwest Network syndication in Oregon, Washington and Idaho… I did my 20 years in the liberal gulag of TV news, but I never stopped doing radio. When a kind-hearted TV management informed me I had a ‘face for radio’ and demanded that I choose – TV or radio – it wasn’t hard at all. My first love, radio… God blessed me with Tina, my wonderful wife, who puts up with the weird hours and strange demands of this business. I have looked forward to each and every day I get to open a mic and talk with folks. My personal goal is to stay behind the mic as long as my hero Paul Harvey did.”
RTDNF Honors Journalists at 30th Annual First Amendment Awards. Last night (3/5), the Radio Television Digital News Foundation honored journalism professionals dedicated to defending the First Amendment and the public’s right to know at the 30th Annual First Amendment Awards in Washington, D.C. The evening’s program began with RTDNA/RTDNF executive director Dan Shelley’s call to action, “Your viewers and listeners in the cities and towns you serve need the refreshing drink of water and the pleasant fragrance of a blossoming local news product that reflect an even stronger commitment to serving them – to empowering them to make positive changes in their communities… By joining forces, we can place America’s dust bowls of journalism into the dustbin of history.” This year’s honorees were: David Muir of ABC News; “60 Minutes” produced by CBS News; Robert Horner of NBC News; Barbara Maushard of Hearst Television; Lori Montenegro of Telemundo; Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); and Steve Andrews of WFLA-TV, Tampa.
Presidential Race/Super Tuesday Top News/Talk Story for Week of March 2-6. The race for the Democratic nomination, the Super Tuesday elections, and the candidates who dropped out were the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio during the week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the coronavirus pandemic. Coming in at #3 was the financial markets activity and the Fed’s interest rate cut, followed by health care reform, climate change, and race relations tied at #4. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.
Music Radio News and Career Moves. Programmer John Candelaria is leaving his position with Beasley Media Group as PD of rhythmic AC WMGC “105.1 The Bounce” and urban AC WDMK “Kiss 105.9” in Detroit and national brand manager
for urban and rhythmic AC to relocate to his home town of Albuquerque…..“The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show” co-host J-Si Chavez and contributor Jenna Owens are launching their new podcast, “Fitish,” and the first episode reached the top 50 on the Apple Podcasts chart. Owens, who recently announced that she is taking a step back from day-to-day co-hosting at “The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show,” states, “I’m thrilled to be able to talk more openly about things I haven’t
been able to discuss on the morning show and do it all with my favorite radio partner and occasionally our real-life partners as well!”…..Pictured at left is Premiere Networks senior director of rock programming and specials Sal Cirrincione (left) and rock legend Roger Daltrey (right) aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for the sold out Rock Legends Cruise VIII. Cirrincione helped entertain passengers by hosting Q&A sessions with three Daltrey, The Doors’ Robby Krieger and Heart’s Nancy Wilson. The annual cruise benefits the Native American Heritage Association, a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to helping Native American families in need who live on Reservations in South Dakota and Wyoming.
Friday, February 8, 2019
KFI’s Dr. Wendy Walsh Launches ‘Mating Matters’ Podcast. Psychologist and “relationship guru” Dr. Wendy Walsh – heard on KFI, Los Angeles on her Sunday afternoon radio program – is launching a new iHeartRadio original podcast called “Mating Matters,” beginning February 10. Dr. Walsh – described as “obsessed with the science of love” – explores human behavior through a lens of reproduction, showing that even when people are not thinking about sex, ancient programming makes us respond to mating cues that impact just about every decision they make. She states, “Let’s face it, we are wired to reproduce. So powerful is this instinct that it has secretly embedded itself in almost every human behavior. But we are so used to being human and hanging out with humans that most people can’t see it. Listen to ‘Mating Matters’ podcast and you’ll understand yourself a little better.”
Westwood One Grabs Dennis Miller Podcast. Sales and syndication firm Westwood One adds “The Dennis Miller Option” podcast to its podcast network platform, effective February 12. Miller is already affiliated with Westwood One as it distributes his daily radio feature, “The Miller Minute,” to some 150 affiliate stations. The company says that bringing his podcast into the fold allows it to offer marketers advertising in both programs. WWO president Suzanne Grimes says, “Dennis is a legend, and we couldn’t be happier about representing more of his original, idiosyncratic commentary. We’re ready to offer marketers broadcast and podcast access to this legendary personality.”
Higgins to Lead SummitMedia Omaha. At the Omaha cluster that includes sports talk KXSP “ESPN Omaha” and four music radio outlets, SummitMedia names Kathy Higgins president of SummitMedia Omaha. Higgins has spent 22 years in television and radio and was most recently leading sales and marketing for an Omaha IT software and consulting firm. She says, “I am thrilled to be back home. These stations and the team who make them possible hold a very dear part of my heart. We look forward to continuing to improve our ability to entertain our audiences and deliver results for our clients.”
Craig Melvin Hosting BFoA’s Golden Mike Award Gala. This year’s Golden Mike Award Dinner and Ceremony to benefit the Broadcasters Foundation of America will honor Nexstar Media Group founder, chairman, president and CEO Perry A. Sook on March 6 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. NBC News’ “TODAY” and MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin will serve as host for the evening that will feature a performance by country duo Sugarland. Perry Sook has more than 38 years of professional experience in the broadcasting industry, covering all facets of the business. He founded Nexstar in 1996 with one local television station in Scranton, Pennsylvania and began building the foundation of what is today one of the world’s leading local diversified media companies, with 174 stations reaching 100 markets and annual revenue in excess of $2.4 billion. Previous recipients of the BFoA’s Golden Mike Award include: Emily Barr, David Barrett, Michael Bloomberg, Bob Pittman, Gordon Smith, Jeff Smulyan, and more. For information, or to reserve a seat or table, please contact the Broadcasters Foundation at 212-373-8250 or info@thebfoa.org.
Trump’s State of the Union Address Top News/Talk Story for Week of February 4-8. Tuesday evening’s State of the Union Address was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the Trump-Russia investigation. Coming in at #3 was the House Intelligence Committee investigation into Trump organization’s ties to Russia, Saudi Arabia and beyond, followed by the political battle over Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall at #4. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s entire chart here.
Post Super Bowl Media Thoughts. Noted media consultant and RT America host Holland Cooke is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Inspired by Super Bowl LIII, Harrison and Cooke engage in thoughtful conversation about the pace of modern life (offense versus defense),
the state of commercials, the rise of streaming TV services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, boring music, deep fakes and more. Check it out! To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here or click on the player box marked “The Michael Harrison Interview” located in the right-hand column on the TALKERS email newsletter and every page of Talkers.com.
The Epoch Times Providing News/Talk Radio with In-Depth Information and Interviews About Huawei. The subject of the global impact of the giant Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei (pronounced wah-way) and the serious security threat it poses to the United States is back in the headlines. The recent arrest of its CFO, Meng Wanzhou, in Canada is just a part of a story of significant importance to the larger subject of U.S.-Chinese relations and the escalation of tensions between the two nations. As indicated in a recent TALKERS story, The Epoch Times, a highly regarded international newspaper launched in the early 2000s by Chinese Americans based in New York City, has taken a leadership role in providing information and insight into Chinese foreign and domestic policy uncensored by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many U.S. talk show hosts have begun taking advantage of the resources provided by this unique news organization’s outreach to the American media. Now, The Epoch Times has published a series of extremely informative articles updating the state of Huawei’s activities and the Meng Wanzhou case. To access this valuable information please click here. To book highly-informed guests from The Epoch Times on your show or to arrange for a media subscription to the newspaper, call Lisa W. at 917-521-6028 or email: lisaw@epochtimes.com. To read the recent comprehensive TALKERS story about The Epoch Times, please click here.
Music Radio News and Career Moves. As reported by Chicago media writer Robert Feder, Entercom has parted ways with WBBM-FM morning personality Kevin “DreX” Buchar after 10 months leading the CHR morning program. Co-hosts Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian will remain as co-hosts of the station’s AM show. In an internal email, program director Todd Cavanah says, “During the past 10 months, Gabe and Nina have developed not only a friendship off the air but a great deal of chemistry with each other and the audience on air, at our bashes, their appearances and their social media platforms. We see an enormous potential with both of these rising stars to achieve our goals on ‘B96’ for mornings. Gabe and Nina will take over mornings immediately and we are confident that their engagement with each other and the listeners will be a huge success.”…..Sales and management pro Jessica Farias is promoted from her region VP of sales post with iHeartMedia Denver to market president for the company’s Colorado Springs station group. iHeartMedia Denver president Tim Hager comments, “Over the years, I’ve marveled at Jessica’s ability to lead and motivate a winning team, to cultivate impactful relationships and elevate her department to unmatched heights. I’m so proud of what Jess has accomplished. I now have the privilege of watching her grow within our region and lead a best-in-class team at iHeartMedia Colorado Springs.”…..Looks like the Grammys’ loss is Westwood One’s gain as singer Ariana Grande – who famously withdrew from performing at this Sunday’s Grammy Awards over conflicts with the producers – will appear on tonight’s Zach Sang show to preview her new album Thank You, Next. Grande will appear with Sang for two hours of this evening’s program to play tracks from her new album and tell the stories behind the songs…..Alpha Media names Ricky Thomas program director for CHR WVBX, Fredericksburg, Virginia “Live 99.3.” Alpha Fredericksburg market manager Beth Vickers says, “Ricky comes to us with a solid level of expertise in the CHR format and is a welcomed addition to ‘Live 99.3!’ His talent on and off the air are sure to bring new and exciting things to Alpha Media Fredericksburg.”…..On-air pro Steph Peters becomes part of the morning show on Mid-West Family Broadcasting’s country WWQM, Madison “Q106,” hosted by Jackson Jones. Peters fills the role vacated by Andi Brooks who recently exited for a promotions position with Big Machine Label Group…..Pictured below is singer, songwriter and actor Jesse McCartney being unmasked in the Phoenix studios of the Johnjay and Rich show. McCartney, in town as part of his Resolution Tour, agreed to don the costume for the show’s version of “The Masked Singer” in which he performed Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me.” Show cast members Kyle and Suzette were tasked with trying to guess who was in the costume.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Bill O’Reilly Touts New Operation; Promises ‘Grisly’ News About His Fox Ouster. At a performance at the NYCB Theatre in Westbury (Long Island) on Saturday, former Fox News Channel personality Bill O’Reilly told attendees, “In the weeks to come, there will be a bunch of news stories that will explain what happened and why it happened,” regarding his exit from FNC. “It’s pretty grisly. It’s pretty nasty. It has to do with far-left progressive organizations that are bent on destroying anybody with whom they disagree, including the president.” This is according to CNN, which covered his “The Spin Stops Here Tour” that includes former Westwood One talk host (and ‘SNL’ alum) Dennis Miller. Newsday also covered the event and reports O’Reilly promoted the efforts of his eponymous website. “But I am starting my own operation. We are going to do that.” He says they will being airing a new, half-hour newscast “where we will go into a studio and it will look like ‘The Factor.’ It’s basically an experiment to see how many people are going to want this service. That’s coming and will be here before September in a robust form. But I suspect there will be another network maybe merging with us. There will be a network that rises up because the numbers for Fox are going down.” However, the CNN report also indicates he’s not exactly predicting the death of FNC, answering a question from the audience about starting a TV network to compete with Fox, “Don’t underestimate it. The Fox brand is very strong. They have a lot of talent. But if you want to get into that game, you need about $200 million.”
KBME, Houston Moves Josh Innes to AM Drive in Schedule ShuffleWith the impending departure of Lance Zierlein from the station at the end of his contract, “The Proper Gentlemen of Sports” morning drive show will disappear and current afternoon personality Josh Innes will move to mornings, effective July 17. Zierlein’s co-host Matt Thomas moves to the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm daypart. “In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu” moves up an hour to 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, and “The Bottom Line” moves from middays to afternoon drive. Joining “Bottom Line” hosts Adam Clanton and Sean Jones will be Jayson Braddock. iHeartMedia director of AM programming Bryan Erickson states, “We’ve received a lot of great feedback since Josh joined ‘SportsTalk 790.’ Love him or hate him, he’s one of the most passionate guys on the radio right now and that resonates with sports fans.”
Reynolds Appointed Marketing/Promotions Director for iHM Portland. Radio pro Susan Reynolds joins the Portland operations of iHeartMedia as marketing/promotions director. The cluster includes news/talk KEX “News Radio 1190,” sports talk KPOJ “Rip City Radio,” country K279BO “103.7 The Legend,” rock KFBW “105.9 The Brew,” hip hop KXJM “JAM’N 107.5,” classic hits KLTH “106.7 The Eagle,” CHR KKRZ “Z100,” and adult contemporary KKCW “K103.” Reynolds’ experience includes time spent as a freelance publicist for various lifestyle clients; talk show producer at CJAD-AM, Montreal; director of marketing and promotion for Alpha Media Portland; and marketing and promotions director for KSOL, San Francisco.
Second Annual Hubbard Radio Talent Institute Begins at Central Washington University. Today begins the second annual Hubbard Radio Talent Institute at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. Hubbard Radio chair and CEO Ginny Morris leads the opening session of the 10-day institute. She says, “Compelling and relatable on-air talent is what separates local radio from all other audio entertainment services. Our investment in the National Radio Talent System at Central
Washington University is an extension of Hubbard Radio’s commitment to do our part to nurture and grow the talent pipeline for the industry. We are proud to partner with Dan Vallie and his team in this important initiative.” Hubbard president Drew Horowitz will close the institute with his session titled, “Now is the Time to Start Thinking like a Pro.” Students from various universities in the state and region accepted into the program will learn from radio pros from Hubbard, Bonneville, Alpha Media, Entercom, Townsquare Media, and others. Each student will be certified as a Radio Marketing Professional by RAB.
TALKERS News Notes. Effective today, KSOO, Sioux Falls, South Dakota moves Fox News Radio’s “Kilmeade & Friends” with Brian Kilmeade from the delayed evening broadcast to a live airing from 8:00 am to 11:00 am CT…..Fred Weinberg is the new CEO of USA Radio’s parent company, Anthem Broadcasting LLC. He announces in a press release that Corrie Creasman is now news director for the network and that USA content is being distributed digitally via VPN…..This year’s NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner and Show, taking place on September 7 at the 2017 Radio Show in Austin, is being emceed by Reach Media-syndicated personality Rickey Smiley…..Rock’n Robin Productions and ABC Radio announce that Robin Roberts’ podcast series “Robin Roberts: Everybody’s Got Something” returns on Wednesday (6/21). The 10-episode series will continue to feature aspirational, positive and intimate discussions that ABC says resonated so deeply with listeners in season one. ABC Radio vice president Steve Jones comments, “After a debut season filled with candid and uplifting conversations, we are thrilled to have Robin return with 10 new emotionally satisfying episodes for listeners.”
Trump-Russia Investigation, Iran Attacks Syrian ISIS Targets, USS Fitzgerald Collision, Megyn Kelly-Alex Jones Interview, GOP Baseball Shooting, Kaepernick Police Comments, U.S. Open, and MLB Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The special counsel investigation into possible links between Trump campaign operatives and Russian agents and debate over whether President Donald Trump himself is being investigated; Iran launches missiles into Syria at ISIS targets in response to Tehran terror attacks; the deaths of seven sailors in the collision of the USS Fitzgerald with a merchant marine vessel; the controversy over Megyn Kelly’s Sunday broadcast of her interview with Infowars’ Alex Jones; the status of U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and the attack on the GOP baseball practice; Colin Kaepernick’s comments that police are comparable to runaway slave patrols after the ‘not guilty’ verdict in the case against officer Jeronimo Yanez; Brooks Koepka wins the U.S. Open; and Major League Baseball action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
KGO’s Ethan Bearman on Fox News Channel’s ‘The Specialists.’ The screen capture above is from KGO, San Francisco midday talk host Ethan Bearman’s recent appearance on Fox News Channel’s “The Specialists” program. The show makes regular use of radio talk show hosts.
Music Radio News and Career Moves. Air personality Aimee Montgomery shifts from Beasley Media Group’s hot AC KVGS “Star 107.9” to adult contemporary W268CS “Lite 101.5” as midday host, effective July 5. Montgomery joined “Star 107.9” in 2015 and most recently served as a co-host of the morning show and worked as local
on-air liaison/producer for the “Brooke and Jubal” program. Beasley Las Vegas operations manager John Candelaria comments, “We have witnessed Aimee’s great attitude, effort, and dedication. We look forward to her applying these same skills across the hall on ‘Lite FM.’”…..Programming pro Joshua Raiford, a.k.a. J1, moves from Urban One’s Indianapolis cluster where he was PD of hip hop WHHH “Hot 96.3” and CHR W275BD “Boom 102.9” to Washington to program the company’s hip hop WKYS. Raiford comments, “I’m humbled, honored and excited about this great opportunity. I thank God first and foremost, and I would also like to thank Jay Stevens, Jeff Wilson, and Kashon Powell for selecting me for this tremendous responsibility.”…..Longtime triple A WXRT, Chicago personality Wendy Rice is leaving the station. She’s been the host of “Saturday Morning Flashback” for more than 30 years. Rice married then-station PD Norm Winer in 1987 and works full time as a middle school teacher. Taking over her duties will be WXRT’s Frank E. Lee and Johnny Mars who will rotate as host of the 8:00 am to 11:00 am program…..There are three moves to report from CBS RADIO’s Philadelphia cluster from VP of music programming Shelly Easton. Mark Radziewicz (a.k.a. Razz) of country WXTU, Nicky G. of classic hits WOGL, and Michael Bennett of adult contemporary WTDY all add assistant program director to their titles. All three remain music directors for their stations…..Brian Fisher is upped to operations manager at Curtis Media
Group’s Boone, North Carolina cluster. Fisher will continue to host the 11:00 am to 2:00 ppm show on country duo WMMY/WWMY “Highway 106.1 and 102.3” and handle operations at news/talk WATA-AM/W243DH and Gospel WECR…..Beasley Media Group launches a “Southern”-based format on W234BY, Charlotte branded “94.7 Smoke.” Beasley says “the core of the playlist will be Southern rock, however, ‘94.7 Smoke’ will also play anything it deems ‘Southern,’ including both local and new artists. In addition, the station will focus all things deemed ‘Southern,’ including hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, pick-up trucks, cold beer, horseshoes, great BBQ, Myrtle Beach, The Smokies, NASCAR and more!”
CBS RADIO’s KNCI, Sacramento Forced to Apologize for Artist Snub. This is one that CBS RADIO’s country KNCI, Sacramento would like to have back. Up-and-coming artist Lindsay Ell was scheduled to be part of a station appearance at KNCI by country artists in town on Brad Paisley’s “Weekend Warrior World Tour.” But, Lindsay happens to be dating air personality Bobby Bones and his show airs on iHeartMedia’s crosstown KBEB “92.5 The Bull.” So, the station “uninvited” her. She tweeted about the incident, apologizing to her fans. Meanwhile, “The Bull” took the bull by the horns and declared it Lindsay Ell Day and played her single, “Waiting on You,” every hour on the hour. Realizing its error, KNCI subsequently tweeted out the following, “Lindsay is an amazingly talented, up-and-coming artist and today we regrettably made a bad decision to cancel her show. We only hope that she — and our listeners — will forgive us, and that Lindsay and her team will allow us to reschedule the show.”
Thursday, March 12, 2014
TALKERS ‘Heavy Hundred’ for 2015 Coming Tuesday, March 24. The editorial board of TALKERS magazine has set the date for the posting of the 2015 installment of the publication’s annual feature, “The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America.” This will mark the 20th consecutive year that the talk media trade journal (that is about to mark its 25th anniversary) has been compiling and publishing the list – also known as “The Heavy Hundred.” According to TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey, “This year’s list will include a number of familiar faces (and voices) as well as new up-and-comers and several veterans who have unfortunately been overlooked in recent years.” Casey continues, “Needless to say, compiling this list is extremely challenging – especially since it draws upon both objective and subjective factors – and is the source of heated debate every year among our editors for months leading up to its release.”
Dave Ramsey’s Smart Money Event Takes Houston. Nationally syndicated talk radio superstar Dave Ramsey was in Houston on March 11 presenting his Smart Money event at Woodlands Church. Ramsey discussed how to win with money, strengthen marriages and lead your children with confidence. Financial expert and speaker Chris Hogan joined Ramsey on stage. Ramsey combined forces with local affiliate KSEV to promote this event. In addition to the Smart Money presentation, he also hosted his EntreLeadership 1 Day Event in Houston on Tuesday, March 10. Ramsey, along with Hogan, spoke about how to run a business using the same common sense principles that Ramsey practices in his own company of more than 400 employees. KSEV general manager Bonny English says, “KSEV loves having Dave to town!” These events are a great opportunity to re-connect in person with our KSEV audience. And the event sponsors are always excited to be part of the Ramsey/KSEV family!”
PodcastOne Earns 19 Nominations for People’s Choice Podcast Awards. When the 10th annual People’s Choice Podcast Awards take place at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Tuesday, April 14, PodcastOne will have 19 podcasts vying for honors. The 10th Annual People’s Choice Podcast Awards will take place during NMX 2015 Las Vegas in conjunction with NAB Show. The nominees are selected based on podcast-listener submissions directly to the Podcast Awards. PodcastOne nominees include: The Adam Carolla Show, The Steve Austin Show – Unleashed!, The Dan Patrick Show, Talk is Jericho, The Dr. Drew Podcast, Sex with Emily, Brandi Glanville Unfiltered, Barstool Sports Mailtime, Loveline, Rob Has a Podcast, Eddie Trunk Podcast, Straight Talk with Ross Matthews, Schmoes Knows, Paula White’s Hope for Today, and The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. Voting takes place at podcastawards.com through March 24. The Podcast Awards will be hosted by PodcastOne personalities Dennis Miller and Emily Morse.
Odds & Sods. WABC, New York midday team Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby spent a good portion of their Wednesday (3/11) program in the studio with just newsman Ken Duffy after a bomb scare forced all other staffers – including their board op and producer Flirty Flipper – to exit the 17th floor of Madison Square Garden. Sliwa and Kuby refused to leave and did much of the show without callers or commercials in the absence of a board operator…..Westwood One is presenting exclusive coverage of the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship beginning on Tuesday, March 17. Full play-by-play action from all 67 men’s basketball games includes the First Four, games from all eight second-round and third-round sites, plus the regional semifinals and finals. In addition, Westwood One will broadcast the NCAA Men’s Final Four on Saturday, April 4, and the National Championship Game on Monday, April 6, live from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
WKZO, Kalamazoo Grabs Michigan Station of the Year Title. Pictured here with the Station of the Year Award for WKZO, Kalamazoo is station brand manager Jeremy Lawrence. The Midwest Communications news/talk station received the honor from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters during the annual Broadcast Excellence Awards that took place on Wednesday, March 11 in Lansing. This marks the fifth time that the station has received this award since 2008. The station also picked up six awards for broadcast excellence in the areas of news and agriculture coverage, promotional materials, commercial production and special programming. Lawrence comments, “It is a great privilege to lead this team of talented broadcasters. The Michigan Association of Broadcasters are only making official what we’ve known every single day here at the station, that this is a fantastic group that pour themselves into producing great content every time they come to work. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.”
Iran Letter/Kerry Response, Hillary Clinton Email Probe, OU Racist Song Case, Latest ISIS Violence, 2016 Presidential Prospects, Immigration/Amnesty Issues, and ‘Blurred Lines’ Ruling Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (3/11). The controversy over the Republican-authored letter to Iran over the proposed nuclear deal and Secretary of State John Kerry’s response to Congress; the continuing probe of Hillary Clinton’s use of personal email for State Department business; the case of University of Oklahoma fraternity brothers’ racist song and the school’s response; the reported execution of a captured Mossad agent by a teenage ISIS member; the potential candidates for president in 2016; President Obama’s amnesty order and its effect on immigration; and the legal case of the “Blurred Lines” song were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Westwood One Announces: Here’s Johnny! Bona fide Chicago radio cult legend Jonathon Brandmeier takes to the national stage next month when Westwood One commences syndicating his daily three-hour eponymous show-gram. Executive vice president of content and programming for Westwood One’s parent company – Cumulus Media – John Dickey comments, “Jonathon is one of the most versatile performers in radio today. We know audiences will enjoy his lively humor and take on each day’s topics. We are thrilled to add ‘Johnny B’ to the Westwood One roster of relevant and relatable talk
programming.” Remarking this is an “extremely exciting” time for all those associated with his show-gram, Brandmeier – who has achieved industry success in Los Angeles (on talk KLSX) and Phoenix (on KZZP) as
well as in Chicago – notes, “We look forward to continuing to entertain audiences in Chicago and expanding our reach nationwide. Fasten your seatbelts – it is going to be a wild ride.” Simultaneous with Brandmeier’s addition to the Westwood One roster is the departure from it by the program hosted by Dennis Miller. The former “SNL” cast member states that he is “stepping aside from radio at the moment” and that, “it has been a great run. I have had a phenomenal time interacting with my guests and audience, but with so many other commitments, it is hard to maintain a daily talk show. It is time to pass the torch as I move on to explore other opportunities – I wish ‘Johnny B’ lots of luck.” Three top-five market Cumulus-owned AM stations (KABC, Los Angeles, WLS-AM, Chicago, and KLIF-AM, Dallas) have already cleared Brandmeier’s 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (ET) program. In addition, there are affiliates in Salt Lake City (KKAT), Providence (WPRV), and Albuquerque (KTBL) – all are Cumulus Media AM properties.
Steve McCoy to Host Mornings on ‘News Radio 106.7’ in Atlanta. The Cumulus Media news station is changing morning shows, bringing aboard Atlanta market pro Steve McCoy, effective Monday, March 1. McCoy worked at the old WZGC “Z93” in AM drive where he was the longest-running morning
personality in the station’s history. He also worked at “Power 99,” WSTR “Star 94” and WSB-FM “B98.5.” WYAY “News Radio 106.7” program director Greg Tantum says, “Steve has had a personal relationship with millions of Atlanta radio listeners for years. Steve’s deep roots in the community bring a one-of-a-kind perspective and understanding to the daily lives of Atlanta residents. Most important, Steve has proven he is the best at entertaining listeners and making them feel good – even in Atlanta traffic.”
Weisman: The Battle Over Net Neutrality. With yesterday’s passage of the FCC’s proposal to reclassify the Internet as a public utility and regulate it, the battle may have just begun. TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman, in a timely column examining the matter, writes that this is sure to bring about court challenges by the ISPs. Weisman notes that even though there was support in both the Democrat and Republican parties for preventing ISPs from creating multi-tiered delivery services, there are other issues that Republicans say are problematic. “Opponents of the FCC’s classifying the Internet as a utility are concerned that, by doing so, the FCC would have increased authority to regulate rates and take other actions that they believe would stifle investment by Internet Service Providers and slow innovation. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has said that he is cognizant of the power that classifying the Internet as a utility would provide the FCC, but that he expects to use a ‘light touch’ in regulating the Internet and would ignore powers that the FCC had that did not relate to broadband. The devil is often in the details and it will be important to see whether a ‘light touch’ is reflected in the specific regulations to implement the vote which will not be published for a few days and will not become effective for a few months.” Read Weisman’s entire column here.
Today Is the Last Day to Receive the Early Bird Discount for Talkers New York 2015. Registrations are already being booked at a rapid pace as Talkers New York 2015 is heading toward being an early sell-out. The session will be held as part of the day-long conference set for Friday, June 12 at the India House Club in the Big Apple’s historic Financial District. Registrations are priced at $299 per person with an early-bird, discounted cost of $249 available until 5:00 pm ET this afternoon. Registrations, which are only open to professionals currently or recently employed in media-related industries, include all sessions, presentations, exhibits and breakfast/lunch/refreshment/and social networking activities. The heavyweight, non-stop agenda will include approximately 65 speakers and 500 attendees are again expected. Registrations can only be taken over the phone and paid for by credit card. For registration, sponsorship and hotel information, please call 413-565-5413. More speakers, panelists and agenda updates will be announced next week.
Jim Bohannon to Emcee Awards Ceremony at Talkers New York 2015. Talk radio great Jim Bohannon will reprise his stellar performance as Emcee of the Awards Ceremony at the forthcoming Talkers New York 2015 conference on Friday, June 12. The veteran Westwood One syndicated personality (a past recipient of the TALKERS Lifetime Achievement Award) will preside over the presentation of the honors which include awards for: Freedom of Speech, Lifetime Achievement, Woman of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. Stay tuned for the names of the award recipients as well as those who will be making the presentations.
Rogers Upped to News Director for Entercom Upstate. Morning news personality Lee Rogers is promoted to news director for Entercom’s Upstate South Carolina station group. Rogers anchors the morning news on news/talk WYRD, Greenville “106.3 WORD” during “The Tara Show.” Entercom Upstate OM Mark Hendrix comments, “Lee brings a wealth of news experience and Upstate knowledge. I look forward to Lee expanding 106.3 WORD’s position as the Upstate’s breaking news leader. Listeners will hear more proprietary content on the news that matters most to them.”
Odds & Sods. With the signing of Jonathon Brandmeier to the Westwood One network and the show being picked up by Cumulus Media’s WLS-AM, Chicago, the station cuts ties with John Kass and Lauren Cohn, who were co-hosting the late morning daypart, although Chicago media writer Robert Feder reports the station is auditioning Lauren Cohn for work on the morning show hosted by Big John Howell. Filling in on the late morning program until Brandmeier starts is talk radio pro Tom Becka, who’s on the air there today through March 6…..American political satirist – and five-time Emmy nominee – Will Durst joins the regular panel of humorous pundits on the weekly podcast “The Koz Effect,” which streams live at 7:00 am ET Saturdays via the Radio Titans podcast network…..San Antonio news/talk KTSA is now heard on the FM dial in the market as Alpha Media begins simulcasting the station on translator K296GK at 107.1 FM…..Powell Broadcasting’s news/talk KSCJ, Sioux City, Iowa begins simulcasting its programming on translator K235CA, Sioux City at 94.9 FM…..ABC and PodcastOne are debuting a new, original podcast series which takes an in-depth look at the new television drama “American Crime.” The weekly podcast will be hosted by film critic and radio personality Elvis Mitchell.
TALKERS Weekly Affiliate Roundup. Joining Greater Media’s WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte is financial talk superstar Dave Ramsey, who will air in the 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm slot. His show is also being added to the evening program schedule at CBS RADIO’s news WNEW-FM, Baltimore/Washington…..The “Good Day” show with host Doug Stephan adds 11 new affiliate stations, including: WQXL, Columbia, South Carolina;
WPBQ, Jackson, Mississippi; and KFTL, Gilbert Arizona…..The “Business Rockstars” show with Ken Rutkowski is added to the program schedule at 18 Rocking M Media outlets in Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma…..“The Financial Exchange” with Barry Armstrong and Kim Carrigan joins the program lineup at WXTK-FM, Cape Cod…..WCGO, Chicago adds Bruce DuMont’s “Beyond the Beltway” to its weekend lineup…..BizTalkRadio clears several shows, including the Ray Lucia program, on new business talk outlet WHFS-AM, Tampa and the 11-station “SuperTalk” chain in Mississippi…..“The Money Pit Home Improvement Show” featuring Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete joins the program lineup at WRKO, Boston.
Hannity Visits Chris Stigall Show at CPAC Radio Row. In this photo, Premiere Networks and Fox News Channel star Sean Hannity (right, standing at mic) makes an impromptu stop at the WPHT, Philadelphia booth on the radio row at the CPAC conference. He appeared on the morning show hosted by Chris Stigall (far left, seated). During the broadcast Stigall spoke with former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, her daughter Bristol, and potential 2016 candidate Senator Ted Cruz.
Dave Ramsey’s ‘Smart Money’ Takes Sacramento. Nationally syndicated radio talk star Dave Ramsey’s “Smart Money” live event tour continued last night (2/26) in Sacramento as he presented his program about how to win with money, get out of debt and invest for the future at Adventure Church. Financial expert and speaker Chris Hogan joined Ramsey on stage. Local affiliate KSTE helped promote the event. KSTE program director Bill White comments, “Dave Ramsey touches, inspires, and helps people every day. He not only provides a healthy perspective in regards to personal and professional finances but has an overall ‘LIFE’ philosophy that resonates with his audience far and wide. His show isn’t just about money; it’s about life. We’re proud to have Dave on “Talk 650” KSTE, a radio show that’s important and matters to listeners and our clients.” Pictured here are (from l-r): KSTE’s Joel Mordhorst, account executive; Darren Mounts, general sales manager; Ramsey; Michelle Alfano, account executive; Jeff Bussani, account executive; and White.
Cool Job Opportunity. Media Advertising & Sponsorship Sales, Ramsey Solutions – The Dave Ramsey Show. This is not a normal job-posting… because this is not a job! We have “one” incredible opportunity available, that will change your life. The only question is “Are you that person?” Ramsey Solutions has an opening for the right person who possesses as a minimum: Proven track-record of closing million dollar deals; Ability to deliver results for your client because you care enough to put together the right solution; Personal integrity that allows your to rise above your competition; Aptitude to hear the word ‘No’ as an opportunity; Fortitude to manage the resources of Radio, Video, Digital, Print, and Event Sponsorships to create unlimited earning potential; Strong working knowledge of what we do and “Why” it works so well every time! This position provides the ability to represent: The Dave Ramsey Show — 3rd Largest Nationally Syndicated Talk Radio Show in the nation; 558 Radio Affiliates nationwide – 8.5 million weekly listeners; 2009 Marconi Award Winner; 2013 NAB Hall of Fame Inductee. Digital Footprint – 1.6 million weekly impressions; Podcast; Online Video Channel/App; Online Audio Stream; iHeartRadio Dedicated Channel. Print Exposure — Two (2) Newsletters with more than 1 million subscribers combined. Live Event Sponsorship — (20) Events each year reaching more than 75,000 in attendance. The opportunity to prove what you can do begins now! If you have what it takes to fill this “one” position then it’s your assignment to get our attention. When we find this person we will commit to providing an incredible work environment, un-paralleled resources with a brand that delivers results, and the ability to control your own earning potential with no corporate imposed ceiling. Apply online at www.daveramsey.com/careers.
Department of Homeland Security Funding Tops Talkers TenTM for Week of February 23-27. The battle in Congress over the funding of the Department of Homeland Security was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 was President Obama’s amnesty order tied with the controversial comments made by former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Coming in at #3 was the brutality of ISIS tied with the Iran nuclear weapons program, and following at #4 was the allegation of Bill O’Reilly’s violating the journalistic ethics code. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week. It is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS and it published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.