Tag: "WCBS-FM"

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Matt Smith to Lead Philly Station Group’s Sales Efforts for Beasley.  Sales and management pro Matt Smith moves up from Beasley Media Group’s Wilmington, Delaware operations, where he was market manager, to Philadelphia where he’s now vice president and general sales manager.  In Philly, Beasley operates sports talker WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic,” WTEL-AM “610 M Sports,” and brokered/ethnic WWDB-AM.  Smith says, “I’m a proud Philadelphia sports fan, and a ‘97.5 The Fanatic’ P1!  I’m thrilled to be back in the most passionate sports town in America leading a top sales team, and working with some of the top professional and collegiate sports brands in the country.”   Philly market manager Joe Bell states, “I’m very impressed with the enthusiasm and management capabilities of Matt Smith.  His history with Beasley has been stellar and he will be instrumental in the continued growth of Beasley’s Philadelphia cluster!”

Chad Benson Show Added to KSTE, Sacramento in Middays.  The program is syndicated nationally by Radio America and announces it is now airing in the 10:00 am to 12:00 noon slot at iHeartMedia news/talker KSTE, Sacramento “Talk 650” KSTE.  KSTE program director Bill White says of the Chad Benson show, “Chad’s experience abroad and here at home, along with his Sacramento roots, makes him a great addition to the Talk 650 KSTE lineup.”  Radio America COO Mike Paradiso adds, “Chad is the next generation of talk and the perfect fit following ‘Armstrong and Getty’ on ‘Talk 650’ KSTE.  We’re excited to be working with iHeart’s great team in Sacramento.”

Townsquare Appoints Andy Meyer to New Video Content Position.  The new title television and digital media pro Andy Meyer has is vice president/original programming and head of video for Townsquare Media.  The company says that in this role, Meyer will oversee its video programming on all digital platforms, as well as for linear TV and branded entertainment.  Townsquare senior vice president of digital Jared Willig says, “We are thrilled that Andy has joined Townsquare to lead video programming and production.  Andy’s executive experience, his creativity as a producer, and his proven track record in creating compelling programming will enable us to grow our already thriving slate of original video franchises.”  In addition to radio stations, Townsquare operates the music and entertainment brands, XXL, Taste of Country, Loudwire, Ultimate Classic Rock, ComicsAlliance, PopCrush, Diffuser, and ScreenCrush, plus numerous live events including, “Mountain Jam,” “Taste of Country Music Festival,” and We Fest.”

DGital Media Partners to Launch ‘Pod Save America.’  On-demand entertainment creator DGital Media is partnering with actor and filmmaker Jon Favreau, former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett, former Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor, and former Obama senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer to launch a new podcast titled “Pod Save America.”  DGital Media says, “The twice-weekly show brings together some of the most influential voices in politics, journalism and entertainment for a freewheeling conversation designed to inform and inspire listeners to become more active in the political process.”  DGital Media chief content officer Chris Corcoran adds, “Talent of this level, both in their influence on the world of politics combined with their skillful and entertaining style of communicating with each other, is rare.  There is probably no better time in American history to have informed, fun and intelligent conversation around the world of politics, and this series will consistently raise the bar and deliver all of that and more.  DGital Media is honored to be partnering with this unmatched team and compelling series.”

CBS RADIO News Now on Amazon’s Alexa.  The company says it’s the first commercial news network to make its product available via Amazon’s Alexa Voice Service.  CBS Radio News listeners are now able to hear full five-minute newscasts and one-minute news briefs on all Alexa-enabled devices such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap and Amazon Fire TV.  Listeners can get the latest news updated hourly through the Flash Briefing on those devices.  By going to the settings menu on the Amazon Alexa app and selecting Flash Briefing, listeners will be able to activate both five-minute newscasts and shorter one-minute news briefs to play on demand.

Golden Globes Anti-Trump Speeches, Russian Hacking Allegations, Jeff Sessions AG Hearings, GOP ObamaCare Plans, Trump Names Kushner to WH Post, and NFL Playoffs Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (1/9/).  The controversy over Meryl Streep’s and other celebrities’ anti-Trump speeches at Sunday’s Golden Globes Awards; the ongoing talk of allegations Russia hacked the DNC’s emails and President-Elect Donald Trump’s disagreement with the intelligence community on the matter; anticipation of today’s confirmation hearings for attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions; the Trump Administration’s and the GOP’s plans to overhaul the Affordable Care Act; Trumps names son-in-law Jared Kushner to White House staff, raising questions about violation of the anti-nepotism law; and the weekend’s NFL playoff games were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Odds & Sods.  WABC, New York talk show host Curtis Sliwa announced to his audience on the “Drive at Five” show on the Cumulus Media news/talk station that he’s re-upped with the station for another two years.  He dedicated his announcement to his late hero and mentor, legendary New York talk host Bob Grant…..Las Vegas-based GCN-syndicated talk show host Dr. Daliah Wachs celebrated her 8^th year on the air as a radio talk personality on Monday, January 9…..ESPN Audio is launching a weekly podcast titled, “Adam Schefter’s Know Them from Adam” that’s an interview series featuring long-form conversations with individuals who have a connection to pro football.  ESPN says the show will “touch upon football topics and go much deeper, exploring life lessons, philosophies, what motivates the interview subjects, and more.”  His first guest is Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones…..Audio sales firm Skyview Networks promoted three of its national audio sales managers to vice president positions.  Those affected are: Lloyd Hyman, Kim Ball and Karen Henderson.   Skyview specializes in play-by-play sports and ABC Radio sales.  The company says the three will be given heavy responsibilities in their new roles…..Pubcaster WBUR, Boston – the markets NPR news station – names Yasmin Amer to the position of “Morning Edition” field producer.  She joins WBUR after six years at CNN…..CBS RADIO Pittsburgh holds its fourth annual gastro fest “eat.drink.PITTSBURGH” on February 18.  News/talk KDKA-AM, sports talk KDKA-FM, and its hot AC and country sister stations are producing the promotion at Rivers Casino that allows attendees to “experience a culinary escape as they enjoy tasty food and beverage samples from some of Pittsburgh’s hottest restaurants and bars.”

Cool Office Gig.  Oregon’s “Radio Station of the Year,” NEWS TALK 860 KPAM, Portland and sister station Sunny 1550, has an immediate opening for a traffic manager to manage all phases of commercial traffic and billing for two radio stations.  The successful candidate will have at least four years’ experience in radio or television broadcast traffic.  Experience using Marketron traffic software is preferred, but not mandatory.  We offer comprehensive compensation and benefits plans in a locally owned and employee-focused environment.  Please send resume to: General Sales Manager, radiosales@kpam.com  No phone calls please.  EOE.

Jonesy’s Book and More Programming News from KLOS, Los Angeles.  A number of news items from Cumulus Media’s Southern California classic rocker KLOS.  Former Sex Pistols guitarist and current host of the midday “Jonesy’s Jukebox” show, Steve Jones, is releasing his memoir titled, Lonely Boy: Tales from A Sex Pistol (Da Capo 2017).   The U.S. release of the book comes at the time of the 40th anniversary of the Sex Pistols’ debut album, Never Mind the Bollocks.  Jones is on a nationwide press tour for the next two weeks, including an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” and two Los Angeles stops for a sold out Q&A and signing at the Grammy Museum tonight (1/10).  On the programming side, KLOS is creating “The Frosty, Heidi & Frank Night Shift” that airs Monday through Thursday from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm.  It features a mix of “best of” material from the KLOS morning show, plus new content never before heard from the show.”  Finally, comic and comedy writer Greg Beharrell joins KLOS for weekends and as a key writer and digital/social content creator.  Beharrell was previously at KITS, San Francisco “Live 105.”  He’ll continue to do his radio shows in Canada, in addition to holding down duties as the Canadian voice of JACK-FM.

Ron Parker Tapped for Afternoons at WLS-FM, Chicago.  New afternoon drive personality Ron Parker hosts his first shift at Cumulus Media’s classic hits WLS-FM, Chicago today.  The station announces that Parker as most recently on air at the company’s country WNSH, New York “NASH FM 94.7.”  He also achieved #1 ratings at two different dayparts at CBS RADIO’s classic hits WCBS-FM, New York.  Parker has held on-air and programming posts in markets including: San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Tallahassee.   WLS program director Brian Thomas comments, “Ron is one of the premier talents of the classic hits format and has always achieved ratings success.”

More Music Radio News and Career Moves.  It’s all Chicago now for WEBG “BIG 95” morning personalities Mason & Remy.  The duo had been doing mornings at iHeartMedia’s Windy City country outlet and at the company’s KSD, St. Louis “93.7 The Bull.”  Now, they are exiting the KSD gig.  Program director and midday host Dusty assumes afternoons and Billy Greenwood is handling middays for now…..Also from iHeartMedia, JB Webb is named senior vice president of programming for the company’s western Ohio station group that includes country WIMT, Lima; CHR WBKS, Columbus Grove; hot AC WMLX, St. Marys; rock WZRX, Fort Shawnee; and news/talk WIMA-AM, Lima…..A series of talent moves take place at Guaranty Broadcasting’s WDGL, Baton Rouge “98.1 The Eagle.”  Richard Condon and Anna Betts move to the morning drive “Condon Uncensored” show.  They are joined by former “Eagle” personality Scott Robb.  Mike Benson is the new midday personality and Scotty Drake moves to afternoons to host “The Drive with the Drake.”

Third Anniversary for ‘NASH Nights Live.’  Celebrating the third anniversary of the “NASH Nights Live” country radio program at the NASH Campus in Nashville are (from l-r): producer Ryan Kershner; NASH Network director of programming John Shomby, co-host Elaina Smith, co-host Shawn Parr, and producer Brian Egan.